GOLDEN Square is a win away from its first premiership in the Champions IGA-backed CVFL senior women’s footy competition.
A runner-up on three occasions to the powerful Castlemaine teams, Golden Square scored an 11-point victory in last Sunday’s second semi-final.
The Darren Walsh-coached Bulldogs took on the Magpies at The Railway Hotel Oval in Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
The Magpies led 10-7 at quarter-time before scores were locked on 22-all at the long break.
As the blue and gold scored 1.1 in the third term it kept the Magpies to a tally of two points.
Golden Square then won the last, 13-7, as it charged to a 42-31 victory.
The competition’s leading goalkicker, Gabby Drage slotted three majors to now have 79 in 18 matches.
Taylah Moore kicked two goals as Lily Mansfield was also on target.
Castlemaine’s attack was led by Jemma Finning on two as captain Tiahna Cochrane and Georgia Gordon added one each.
Best for the Bulldogs were Ava Barker, co-captains Carly Geary and Liz Watkins, along with Taylah Moore, Gabby Drage and Lily Mansfield.
Castlemaine’s best were Alice D’Arcy, Tiahna Cochrane, Eillish Cumming, Taylah Sartori and Emma Pedretti.
The Magpies will now meet Sandhurst in this Friday night’s preliminary final at Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo’s View Street from 7.30pm.
Sandhurst’s song includes the words “fight for victory”.
The Dragons did just that in Sunday’s dramatic finish to the first semi-final against Eaglehawk at The Railway Hotel in Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
Eaglehawk led 14-8 at quarter-time before it was 16-all at half-time.
The Hawks gained a two-goal buffer by the last change as they added 2.6 in the third as the Dragons kicked a solitary goal.
With its season on the line the Liam Ireland and Andrew Saladino-coached Sandhurst lifted its intensity and attacking play.
The team in maroon and blue scored 2.2 and kept the Borough to a point in the last quarter.
When the siren sounded Sandhurst was up 36-35.
The Sandhurst attack was led by Lily Campbell on two goals as Grace Campbell and Charlotte Scanlon were also on target.
Goalkickers for Eaglehawk were Caitlin Evans, two; Grace Edlin and Kelly Mensforth.
Best for Sandhurst were Lauren Suleiman, Grace and Lily Campbell, Chloe Naughton, Sarah Baldwin and Ruby Campbell.
Eaglehawk’s best were Lucy El Hage, Eliza Long, coach Molly Metcalf, Lexie Moss, Monique Gavriliadis and Caitlin Evans.
A brilliant run by Woorinen in the Champions IGA-backed CVFL under-18 girls competition kept rolling on.
Unbeaten in the 15-round home-and-away series, Woorinen faced Strathfieldsaye Storm in last Sunday’s first semi-final at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
The Tigers raced to a 27-6 lead by quarter-time.
Strathfieldsaye hit back to match Woorinen’s score of 1.1 in term two.
Woorinen dominated the crucial third quarter.
As the yellow and black scored 4.4 the Storm line-up did not add to its tally.
The final term went Woorinen’s way, 14-6, on the way to a 74-19 victory.
Prue O’Sullivan led the Tigers’ attack on four goals as Sunny Barry kicked three.
Woorinen also had Zoe Brooks boot two goals as Stella Bibby and Sadie Spitty were also on target.
Goalkickers for Strathfieldsaye were Forest Jackson-Leahy, Dempsey McDonnell and Kirra Molloy.
Best for Woorinen were Carly Shepherd, Charli Conway, Sunny Barry, Kieley Styles, Milla Stewart and Meg Young.
Storm’s best were Akiva Morrissey, Chella Fitzgerald, Jordan O’Bree, Jorja Cunningham, Isabella Stevens and Molly Manton.
Strathfieldsaye Storm will now face Eaglehawk in Friday night’s preliminary final at Queen Elizabeth Oval in View Street, Bendigo from 5.30pm.