The Grasshoppers, led by another standout goal shooting performance from Lou Dupuy, overcame an early deficit to post a pleasing 58-52 win at White Hills.

It was the reigning premiers’ sixth-straight win to leave them undefeated this season.

For the Demons, who have been runners-up to Colbinabbin the past two seasons, it was their first loss.

But as has been the case throughout the last three seasons, the six-goal margin proved there was again little between the two sides this season.

The Demons were able to match the Grasshoppers for all but a five-minute period in the second quarter, with the reigning premiers being able to convert a one-goal lead at quarter time into a 30-23 advantage at the main break.

A pair of final-minute goals in the third quarter to Dupuy helped Colbinabbin extend its lead by a single goal at three quarter time, with White Hills narrowly taking the honours in the last quarter with a 15-13 run to make the margin six goals.

Two-time premiership coach Liz Cobbledick praised her players for holding their nerve in a game both teams had obviously been looking forward to for weeks.

“They scored the first three or four goals of the game, but we weren’t too rattled by their start – we said to ourselves the first five minutes would be anyone’s and we knew it would take longer than that to find our composure,” she said.

“The girls were able to get back up pretty quickly, work hard and get the win.

“It wasn’t easy though. When you get a run-on in a game like this you really need to make the most of it and keep building, even if you’re hurting.

“If you take the brakes off (White Hills) will come back hard as they did all day.”

Cobbledick rated Dupuy, who scored 51 of the Grasshoppers’ 58 goals, as the side’s best.

“Her work was exceptional – the variety under the post really kept them guessing,” she said.

“Georgie Rodger was awesome at wing attack, really dynamic and her feeding was really composed.

“And Olivia (McEvoy) worked really hard all day and backed herself to get the ball into space.

“The belief we have in each other was something that worked well for us today, there was no hesitating and our passes were all timed well.”

The Grasshoppers welcomed back Holly Guerra from injury and she pulled up well after playing the last half at wing defence.

White Hills coach Lauren Bowles said despite a loss, her side would take plenty of positives from the contest.

“We’ve been looking forward to this game for the last couple of weeks and have been in some really good form,” she said.

“You have to come up against teams like Colbinabbin to see where you are sitting as a team.

“We’ve taken a lot out of the game – sure a loss is disappointing – but for us there are lots of things we did well and can take into games against Leitchy and Mounts in the next few weeks.

“We started really well as a team, but it was our second quarter when we had a real lull for five or six minutes and that is what has cost us the game.”

The Demons had excellent contributors in goal defence Dannielle Sawyer and goal shooter Ash Gilmore, who provided plenty of spark with 22 second-half goals, after Shannyn Keely scored 16 from the position in the first half.

“Ash has come from a basketball background, so she’s got a lot to learn, but we’re really hoping by the end of the season she is making huge gains and will be brilliant for us,” Bowles said.

“We didn’t have as many standout performances as we have had in the past few weeks, it was more of a team effort.

“But when you come up against a challenging team like Colbinabbin, you need people to lift.

“I thought Dan Sawyer had a really great game.”

In other games, Lockington-Bamawm United has broken through for its first win this season following a 37-31 victory over Heathcote.

Elmore has continued its improvement with a 43-34 win against North Bendigo and now has three wins and a draw from seven games , while Huntly defeated Leitchville-Gunbower 58-46.