BENDIGO Thunder celebrated a long-awaited victory after Sunday’s third round clash with Marong in the Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy season.
The Mick McInnes-coached Thunder surged to a 19-6 lead by quarter-time of the match at Bendigo’s Weeroona Oval.
It was an evenly-fought contest across the next three quarters.
At the final siren Thunder led 34-20.
Stacey Barbagallo kicked three goals in a best afield performance as Shastia Martion chipped in with two goals.
Best for Thunder were Barbagallo, Hollie Maher, Archie McLachlan, Sarah Lean, Shastia Martion and Jasmine Alcon.
Tianna Shay, Cayden Luca and Bridget Chalkley led the way for the Brett Carter-coached Panthers.
Round three kicked off with Friday night’s match between Sandhurst and Castlemaine under the Queen Elizabeth Oval lights.
It was Castlemaine’s first match at the iconic ground since last season’s grand final victory.
The Jordan Cochrane-coached Magpies led 20-1 at quarter-time and was up 33-1 by the long break.
Sandhurst worked hard in the second half to restrict a slick Castlemaine line-up to just two more goals.
Paynton Jollife kicked four goals in the 45-3 victory.
Best for Castlemaine were Alice D’Arcy, Tia Davidge, Maeve Tupper, Mikayla Gellatly, Paynton Jolliffe and Amelia Britt.
Ruby Campbell, Chloe Naughton, Kodi Jacques, Lily Campbell, Hannah Maher and Chloe Taylor were best for the Liam Ireland and Andrew Saladino-coached Sandhurst.
Wedge-Tailed Eagles marked its first home game in CVFL when it hosted Golden Square at Woodend’s Racecourse Reserve on Sunday.
The Darren Walsh-coached Golden Square charged to a 27-nil lead by quarter-time and was up 54-6 by the main break.
The Bulldogs won the next two quarters, 13-0 and 22-0.
Gabby Drage kicked five goals in the 89-6 victory as Lily Mansfield booted three and Kira Gibbons added two.
Best for Golden Square were Lily Mansfield, Karley Hynes, Heidi Schneider, Liz Watkins, Taylah Moore and Gabby Drage.
Catherine Turnbull, Alicia Chadwick, Teagan Ainslie, Jessica Cannane, Skye Sinclair and Belinda Hateley were best for the Phil Hawkes-coached Eagles.
Defences controlled a lot of play in Eaglehawk’s showdown with White Hills on Sunday at C & M Oval in Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.
The Molly Metcalf-coached Hawks led 15-6 at half-time after Courtney Coffey and Caitlin Evans were on target.
Tarlia Murphy kicked the Demons goal.
In the second half the Hawks added a behind as White Hills scored six behinds.
When the final siren sounded the Hawks were up 16-12.
Best for Eaglehawk were Eliza Long, Ellie Bailey, Lexie Moss, Emily Galtieri, Caitlin Evans and Shanae Sawyer.
Seisia White, Chelsea Edwards, Courtney Collard, Jorja Gibson, Ella Henery and Georgia Cook were best for the Sharni Barker and Allara Jackson-coached White Hills.
Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy ladder:
Castlemaine 821 per cent, 12 points; Wedge-Tailed Eagles 375, 8; Golden Square 297, 8; Sandhurst 142, 8; White Hills 330, 4; Eaglehawk 29, 4; Bendigo Thunder 8, 4; Marong 5, 0.
Round four kicks off this Friday night when Golden Square plays at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street for the first time this season against Castlemaine from 7pm.
On Anzac Day it will be Bendigo Thunder against Wedge-Tailed Eagles at Weeroona Oval in Bendigo’s Napier Street from 12.15pm.
Play on Sunday starts at 1pm where Eaglehawk hosts Sandhurst at C & M Oval in Canterbury Park, and Marong meets White Hills in the Panthers’ den at Malone Park.
Leading goalkickers:
15 Shelby Knoll, Cm.
9 Gabby Drage, GS; Emma Williams, WTE;
7 Jorja Bennett, WTE; Paynton Jolliffe, Cm;
6 Kareena Jacobsen-Logan, WTE; Lily Mansfield, GS;
5 Brooke Cowan, WTE; Acacia Edwards, WH; Kira Gibbons, GS;
4 Abbey Klemm, Cm; Natalie Korinfsky, WTE; Seisia White, WH;
The CVFL under-18 girls competition kicks off this Friday when Kangaroo Flat takes on Castlemaine on the Roos’ ground at Dower Park from 5.45pm.
Four matches will be played on Sunday from 11am.
Eaglehawk faces Echuca United at C & M Oval in Canterbury Park.
Woorinen hosts Sandhurst in the Tigers’ den at Woorinen Recreation Reserve.
Strathfieldsaye Storm tackles Marong at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
Golden Square and White Hills will chase premiership points at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street.