BY NATHAN DOLE
Castlemaine marks hat-trick of grand finals
CASTLEMAINE will mark a hat-trick of grand final appearances in the Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s clash on September 6.
The Jordan Cochrane-coached Magpies advanced to what will be “one night in September” after Sunday’s second semi-final against Golden Square was abandoned.
A severe storm marked by hail and heavy rain drenched Bendigo’s Queen Elizabeth Oval and led to the match being called off.
Unbeaten across the 18-round home-and-away series, Castlemaine progresses to the season decider.
For the Nathan Manuel-coached Golden Square the focus will now be on next Friday night’s preliminary final against Woorinen at the QEO.
The Bulldogs and Tigers will play from 7.20pm at the View Street ground.
Last season’s runner-up, Woorinen stayed in the premiership race by winning Sunday’s first semi-final against Eaglehawk at the QEO.
The margin was much closer than when the Tigers and Hawks met in the 18th round at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.
A hard-fought final went Woorinen’s way, 5.7 (37) to 1.7 (13).
Woorinen led eight-nil at quarter-time and scored two goals as it kept the Hawks to a behind in the second term.
A tally of 10 scoring shots as it kept the Borough to just two across the opening three terms was a sign of Woorinen’s dominance.
The yellow and black led 30-2 at a quarter to play.
Eaglehawk fought on to score 1.5 in the last as Woorinen added 1.1.
At the final siren it was Woorinen in front, 37-13.
The Tigers’ attack was led by Courtney Wakefield on three goals as Jenna Bannam and Casy Unger added one each.
Best for Woorinen were Jenna Bannam, Brydi Lewis, Courtney Wakefield, Sheridan Gallagher, Ngaire Harlan and Madison Allan.
Eaglehawk’s best were co-coach Molly Metcalf, Jess Dover, Eileen Mitchell, Lilly Stevenson, Caitlain Evans and Chloe Green.
The Woorinen team is again led by playing coach Katelyn Hazlett.
An Eaglehawk team coached by Molly Metcalf, playing, and Geoff West achieved a win-loss tally of 10-5 and drew another match to be fourth at the end of the home-and-away series.