After a slow start to Euroa’s Goulburn Valley League clash with Tatura at Memorial Oval questions arose as to how it would play out late.
Ultimately, the Magpies didn’t need a sizeable three-quarter time advantage to hold on to this time.
Tatura, to its credit, prevented any escape for the first three quarters and, with a huge scalp notched in overcoming Seymour the previous week, there was every reason to believe in the Bulldogs with a slender quarter-time lead.
When Jacob Simpson slotted home his second goal of the day to restore parity shortly before the long break, nobody would have stuck their neck out to make any confident predictions.
Euroa’s ability to take chances around goal was something of an unsung force in surviving the Shepparton Swans’ final-quarter frenzy in the first round, but it was quickly out the window with a handful of blown chances during the third term.
Things finally came good for the home side inside the last half-hour as the Magpies embraced the running game, with 31 of 33 handballs effective in the final term.
Tristan Davies found the big sticks twice with the game on the line to finish with a team-high three for the day, with Andrew Smith taking command in the ruck to deliver Euroa a comfortable clearance advantage.
The end result was almost the polar opposite of the previous week as the Magpies eventually made it two from two comfortably, prevailing 9.14 (68) to 5.4 (34).
Coach Ryan Pendlebury appreciated not having to sweat to the end this time around.
“It felt like a similar position, but we were trying to win the game instead of trying to save it,” Pendlebury said.
“I think that worked out better; I felt like we were in control of the game, but the scoreboard didn’t reflect that until three-quarter time.
“It was good to get a bit of reward in that last quarter.”
The reward might be put lightly after the night-and-day transition from the final quarter at Princess Park.
“At three-quarter time, we touched on the fact we needed to win the game and actually take it on rather than rely on winning by that margin (seven points),” Pendlebury said.
“The week before, we were pretty comfortable, but it turned pretty quickly and we went into our shells.
“It’s good to be able to say we can go and win it or that we can save it and that it works more often than not.”
Euroa will enter the danger zone again this week, though, with a trip to meet a Kyabram side that completed a stirring comeback at Rochester.
“I think it’s always competitive when you play such a good team like Kyabram,” Pendlebury said.
“It’s a good test. They’ve lost some players, but they’re such a good club that I think they’ll still be thereabouts.
“They really got a hold of us when we played there last year, so we'll see where we're at.”