The Storm upset Golden Square 36-31 at Strathfieldsaye on Saturday in a game that might yet have consequences for the Bulldogs’ finals hopes.

It was a victory joint coaches Kathryn Gilmore and Amy Davies, who previously coached and played at Golden Square, hoped would come, but feared might not eventuate.

“It was pretty close all day; I think the weather probably played into our hands and slowed the game down a little bit,” Gilmore said.

“But the whole year we’ve played with the attitude of just giving it our best and on Saturday we were able to get four points from that.

“It’s a different team to the one we started (the year) with; we’ve been able to bring Caity Hamilton into goals with Liv (Olivia Mason) and been able to move the experience of Ash Barbetti to wing attack.

“We’ve played with that combination the last couple of games, but Saturday was just our day.

“(Getting to round 16) we thought we might go through the year without a win, but our goal for the second half of the season has been to reduce our margins.

“We lost by 31 goals against Golden Square in the first round, so that’s a huge turnaround.”

Strathfieldsaye has been in contention at three quarter time in a few more of their games this season, but failed to run out the four quarters.

On Saturday the Storm were able to hold their nerve after conceding a three goal deficit at quarter time.

A strong second quarter during which they restricted the Bulldogs to just four goals produced a three goal lead at half time, with the Storm able to increase the margin by one goal in each of the final two terms to win by five goals

It was the Storm’s first triumph since round 18 last season when they defeated Kyneton 62-24 under former coach Aleisha Langdon.

The win was a blow for Golden Square’s finals aspirations.

The Bulldogs, who were without midcourter Carly Ladson on Saturday, could have gone a long way to consolidating fifth place, but instead slipped to sixth after Maryborough collected four points for the bye.

The Bulldogs are guaranteed four points for the bye in the final round, but this weekend meet second-placed Gisborne, while Maryborough clashes with top-side Sandhurst.

Strathfieldsaye can put a dent into the hopes of another finals aspirant when it clashes with South Bendigo on Saturday.

Gilmore did not want to individualise, but instead credited the win as a ‘true team performance’.

“The girls really deserved it, they worked hard,” she said.

‘Filling a top-three (best players) was really hard; our defence end really stood up, our midcourters kept persisting. And in trying conditions, our goalers did a great job.

“Hopefully with a bit of belief now we can get another win this week.”

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