-By Nathan Dole
North Bendigo marks back-to-back wins
NORTH Bendigo marked back-to-back wins in Sunday’s sixth round of Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy action.
After just two wins in ’24 and one the previous season, North Bendigo is now on a two-two run in ’25.
The Jaydene Burzacott and Zak Carter-coached Bulldogs also passed the century mark in the Pink Round match played on Bendigo Thunder’s turf at Weeroona Oval.
The league again kicked in to support Breast Cancer Network Australia through the Pink Round promotion.
On the field North Bendigo won 111-13 against a Thunder line-up which has many newcomers to the game.
Kira Gibbons led the Bulldogs’ attack on four goals as Mia Bolitho-Williams added three.
Other multiple goalkickers were Kayla-Brea McIntosh and Marguerita Murphy on two.
Stacey Barbagallo and Sharlene Cole were on target for Thunder.
North Bendigo’s best were Heidi Schneider, Maddison Mansfield, Sarah Thompson, Samantha Hunter, Shae-Lee Murphy-Burke and Ashlyne McInnes.
Stacey Barbagallo, Katherine Christie, Alannah Leach, Sharlene Cole, Hollie Maher and Estella Murphy played well for the Mick McInnes-coached Thunder.
Golden Square scored a 71-nil win against Marong at Golden Square’s Wade Street Oval.
The Bulldogs led 30-0 at half-time and then added five goals in the third.
Captain Liz Watkins kicked five goals as Gabby Drage added two.
Terina Pickering, Tanya Walsh, Mackenzie Bickley, Gemma Roberts, Taylah Moore and Lauren Suleiman were best for Golden Square.
Marong’s best were Hayley Battersby, Hannah Cue, Bianca Bourke, Kayla Grant, Liza Jane Edwardds and Regeena Torney.
The Panthers are coached by Jimmy Evenden and Daniel Bourke.
Castlemaine’s hot run kept rolling in the match with White Hills at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
The Jordan Cochrane-coached Magpies led 55-8 at half-time on the way to a 108-16 victory.
Vice-captain Eloise Gretgrix kicked six goals as Brianna Burt booted three and Eillish Cumming and Jemma Finning chipped in with two.
Best for Castlemaine were Eillish Cumming, Jemma Finning, Tiahna Cochrane, Meg Ginnivan, Brianna Burt and Eloise Gretgrix.
Sasha Pearce, Acacia Edwards, Oakley Turner, Amelie Haigh, Kadeisha Smith and Kara Kane played well for the Phil Murley-coached White Hills.
Eaglehawk and Sandhurst had the bye.
Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy ladder:
Castlemaine 1981 per cent, 20 points; Golden Square 757, 20; Eaglehawk 332, 12; Sandhurst 104, 8; North Bendigo 48, 8; Marong 71, 4; White Hills 21, 0; Bendigo Thunder 1, 0.
Round seven kicks off next Friday night when two matches will be played.
It’s the battle of the Bulldogs as Golden Square faces North Bendigo at the Wade Street ground in Golden Square from 7pm.
Eaglehawk takes on Bendigo Thunder at Canterbury Park from 7.15pm.
On Sunday it will be Sandhurst against White Hills from 1pm at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Castlemaine and Marong have the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
21 Eloise Gretgrix, Castlemaine.
13 Liz Watkins, Golden Square.
11 Gabby Drage, Golden Square.
10 Sarah Mannes, Golden Square.
9 Brianna Burt, Castlemaine.
9 Jemma Finning, Castlemaine.
8 Tiahna Cochrane, Castlemaine.
8 Kira Gibbons, North Bendigo.
Round three in the Champions IGA-backed CVFL under-18 girls competition was played on Sunday.
Clubs also marked Pink Round in support of Breast Cancer Network Australia.
Woorinen was in hot form as it won 104-21 against Sandhurst in the Tigers’ den at Woorinen Recreation Reserve.
Sunny Barry booted five goals for the Tigers as Ruby Butler, Charli and Mayla Conway, and Meg Young added two each.
Chloe Tweed kicked three goals for Sandhurst.
Best for the yellow and black were Milla Stewart, Erin Johnson, Sunny Barry, Chloe Lovell, Hollie Everett and Stella Bibby.
Alannah Prowse, Ryah Mackie, Chloe Tweed, Mia Maxted and Phoebe Henderson played well for Sandhurst.
At Golden Square the home team scored a 78-6 victory against Strathfieldsaye.
The Bulldogs were down three-nil at quarter-time, but hit back to score 3.6 in the second.
Led by the play of Eliza Rotherham, Katrina O’Neill and Shoshanna Love, Golden Square surged clear in the second half.
Captain Ruby Demeo kicked three goals as Lily Mansfield added two.
The Bulldogs’ best included Matilda Smith, Charlotte Crane and Lily Mansfield.
Storm’s best were Scarlett Ward, Lara Cockerall, Chella Fitzgerald, Jasmin Wood, Emily Bullock and Gemma Fox.
Details from the Kangaroo Flat and Eaglehawk match at Dower Park were not supplied.
White Hills had the bye.
Champions IGA-backed CVFL under-18 girls footy ladder, pending result from Kangaroo Flat v Eaglehawk:
Woorinen 1842 per cent, 12 points; Golden Square 486, 12; White Hills 181, 4; Sandhurst 159, 4; Strathfieldsaye 2, 0; Kangaroo Flat 0.2, 0; Eaglehawk 0, 0.
The seventh round kicks off Friday night at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park where the Hawks tackle Strathfieldsaye from 5.30pm.
On Sunday it will be Sandhurst versus White Hills at Queen Elizabeth Oval from 11.15am.
Golden Square plays Kangaroo Flat at the Wade Street ground in Golden Square from 11.15am.
Woorinen has the bye.
Leading goalkickers, pending details from Kangaroo Flat v Eaglehawk:
12 Sunny Barry, Woorinen.
11 Charli Conway, Woorinen.
9 Tarliah Murphy, White Hills.
9 Chloe Tweed, Sandhurst.
8 Sophie O’Connell, White Hills.
6 Lily Mansfield, Golden Square.
5 Lucy Gilbee, Golden Square.
5 Ryah Mackie, Sandhurst.
5 Mia Maxted, Sandhurst.
5 Carly Shepherd, Woorinen.
5 Meg Young, Woorinen.