THE Stawell Warriors A grade side claimed its second win of the season when it faced the Southern Mallee Giants on Saturday.
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The two sides met at Stawell's Central Park for round 10 of the Wimmera League in wet and slippery conditions, and although they had to play a slower game to compensate, it was still very sharp.
Warriors co-coach Toni Stewart said her side struggled at first but showed their full power in the second half of the game.
"It was really even for the first quarter with lots of turnovers," she said.
"In the second quarter the Giants got away from us and we were down quite a bit at half time, but we managed to come back in in the third quarter.
"We got to about four down and then came home in the last quarter."
Both sides said some player rotations changed the luck of the Warriors.
"We made a change and brought in Dakota Cosson onto goal shooter and switching Ebony (Summers) up into keeper, and that seemed to work well in the conditions," Stewart said.
"I think because (the game) was a bit slower it probably suited a taller defender."
The Giants' personal carer and player Kimberley Shannon said the appearance of Cosson changed the direction of the game.
"Their goal shooter that came on at half time, she definitely lifted their whole team so I think that really helped them as well," she said.
A few other factors also caused the Giants to start slipping behind, Shannon said.
"I thought the girls played really well in the first half and I honestly thought a 10 goal lead was going to be enough in this weather, but I just think a few things didn't go our way and then it was like a snow ball effect," she said.
"Then the more it got away the more they just couldn't bring themselves back."
Player absences also made things difficult.
"We were missing our goal attack in Amy Dodds and defender Abby White," Shannon said.
Stewart said that the Warriors were also feeling good after their first win of the season in round nine against Nhill.
"Last week there was a bit of a confidence boost and they probably got more of a confidence boost in that third quarter coming back and that last quarter we did today. That was a fight back and they had to really dig deep. There were a lot of second and third efforts and they were really backing up each other."