The Tigerettes made up significant lost ground in the last three quarters, but were unable to make it all up, to eventually lose by two goals in a third close call for the season.
Trailing 8-15 at the first break the Tigerettes won the next three quarters by five goals, with star goaler Teal Hocking finishing with all but 10 of its goals for the match.
In round three the Tigerettes lost by three goals to Echuca and then a week later had a one-goal win against Shepparton.
The 47-49 loss to United on Saturday came after significant improvement in the second quarter reduced the margin at half time to only two goals. Rochester made only one change, in the second half of the final term, for the entire match.
Rochester now has a bye for the split round before it faces the team directly above it on the ladder, Shepparton Swans.
The Tigerettes sit ninth on the ladder, three wins off sixth-placed Shepparton.
Bridgette Holt and Linda Rasmussen continued their brilliant seasons, their intensity to turn the ball over allowing Rochester to close the margin to one goal at three-quarter time.
Jaime Dingwall at wing defence was a key in the mid-court, while Ella Roulson applied the pressure to force turnovers. Dingwall played seven-and-a-half quarters of netball for the day.
Hocking kept the scoreboard ticking over, while her partner in goals Morgan Dingwall played a terrific feeding role.
Ellie Cuttriss and Holt provided final-half highlights, with a flying intercept from Holt the highlight.
- A nine-goal final term from goaling sensation Charlotte Gould enabled Rochester to score a come-from-behind win in the B-grade match.
The Tigerettes sit fifth at the half-way mark of the season after the 36-34 victory, which was its fourth win in a row.
A 6-4 win-loss record has it equal on points with its next opponent, Shepparton Swans, a win on July 1 would separate it from the chasing pack.
Leila Palmer and Charlee Roulston responded to a slow start by combining for the first three quarters to keep their team in the contest.
Palmer shot 11 of the Tigerettes’ 18 opening-half goals and shot another three in the third term, when Rochester was outscored 12-7, before Sahra Brooks came on to the court.
Rochester trailed by a goal at the final break, but with Gould taking her match total to 20 goals the team secured an important victory against ninth-ranked United.
Only a couple of changes were made in the match, Roulston moving into the centre for the last three quarters and Rachel Whipp into an attacking wing position.
Serious business: Tara Atley and her under-17 Rochester team now face a challenge to regain a place in the top six.
- In B-reserve a slow start by the Tigerettes was cancelled by a dominant third term inspired by the experienced Kristy Roulston.
Roulston played three-and-a-half quarters in centre and handed the bib to Chance Powles for the last half of the final term when Rochester was in control, winning 33-26 to maintain a top six ranking.
The Tigerettes face third-placed Swans in their next match, but are only one win inside the top six at the halfway mark.
Roulston’s mid-court work and Grace Wachter’s defensive brilliance set up the win, while Ella McPhee was accurate in goals during the second half. Despite a low-scoring finish to the game it was an important four points for the team.
McPhee shot six second-half goals after Zali Hocking had shot 15 first-half goals and finished with 24 for the match.
Wachter played the entire game as goal-keeper, working with Annalese Oliver and Grace Ingram at different points.
- Rochester missed a chance to advance its position on the ladder after an 11-goal loss in the under-17 match.
The Tigerettes sit eighth now, a game outside the top six, after losing 44-33.
Multiple intercepts from under-age star Maddy Pearce and support from keeper Tara Atley ensured a tight second half, after United had built an eight-goal lead by half time.
Pearce made several interceptions and changes in the second term saw Justice Powles come into wing defence and Monica Ingram into the centre, her speed improving the Tigerettes in the second half.
Payton Tiller and Kaitlyn Joyce rebounded strongly at the goaling end, while Atley’s strong defensive work allowed her team to be outscored by just three in the second half.
Tiller shot 15 goals in the second after being restricted to nine goals in the opening half, while Joyce finished with seven goals.
- Strong defensive work from United made it hard for under-15 goalers Chance Powles and Lexie McKenzie to put a winning score on the board.
Rochester led by a goal at quarter time, but by half time faced a five-goal deficit and never recovered to lose by four, 34-30.
Chance Powles shot 15 goals in the second half, having shot 11 in the opening half as Rochester outscored its opponent by one in the final half.
The mid-court battle was even throughout as Rochester made just one change for the entire game, while Leah Toohill and Imogen Kath made life difficult for the United goalers.
No interchange, and a usual high rotation of players through the seven positions, made it difficult for the Tigerettes.
The under-15 outfit now sits seventh, two games outside the top six and with an important match against sixth-ranked Swans on July 1.