Magpies soar to victory in league debut
CASTLEMAINE soared to a 10-goal victory on debut in Saturday night’s Champions IGA-backed Central Victoria Football League’s senior women’s match against Kyneton.
The Magpies marked their first match in the league on home turf under the lights at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
It was a hot start by the Pies as they led 18-nil at quarter-time.
Castlemiane added 2.2 as the Tigers replied with three points in the second term.
The Magpies kicked away to a 30-point lead by the last change after another two goals in quarter three.
Kyneton finally broke the deadlock through two goals by Taylah Moore.
It was the Tiahna Cochrane-coached Magpies who finished with full of run by scoring 5.3 in the last to complete a 12.7 (79) to 2.4 (16) victory.
Shelby Knoll led Castlemaine’s attack on three goals as Ella Cochrane, Emily Cooper and Lily McNair added two each.
Best afield honours went to Michelle Barkla as Ella Cochrane, Emily Cooper, Meg Ginnivan, Bridie Semmens and Jemma Finning starred for Castlemaine.
Kyneton’s best were Taylah Moore, Heidi Erasmus, Lucille Mitchell, Ursula van Dyk, Rachael Williams and Belinda Hateley.
The league’s top team of the past two seasons, Golden Square again showed it will be a force after a 174-point victory in Sunday’s match on North Bendigo’s ground at Hibo Hotel Oval in Atkins Street.
Golden Square led 40-1 at quarter-time and then added 49, 40 and 46 points in the next three quarters on the way to a 27.13 (175) to 0.1 (1) result.
A tally of 11 goalkickers was led by Emily Collins and Michelle McCready, four; Amanda Carrod, Mia Ward and Monique Williams, three.
A star in Square’s unbeaten run in 2021, Amanda Carrod earned best on ground honours as Jessica Cox, Keely Hare, Mia Ward, Letisha Stewart and Emily Collins started the season in great form.
Best for North Bendigo were Samantha Bice, Sophie Perkins, Jasmine Leech, Taylah Nicholson, Sarah Creeley and Mikala Creely.
Bendigo Thunder scored a 104-point victory on Kerang’s turf at Riverside Park.
Thunder led 30-0 at quarter-time and went on to add 39 points in the second, nine in the third and 26 in the last.
The Blues worked hard, but could not break through a strong Thunder defence.
Goalkickers for Thunder were not supplied.
Bendigo Thunder has kept the opposition scoreless in consecutive weeks.
Thunder’s captain Phoebe Cuttriss was best afield as Jacqui Graham, Katelyn Hazlett, Megan Williamson, Hannah Perry and Britney Mueck played well.
Kerang’s best were Jessica Searle, Jemma Meehan, Sophie Peacock, Maddy Price, Rebecca Zerbe and Emma Peacock.
Eaglehawk’s impressive start to the season kept rolling as the Two Blues marked a 106-point win on Strathfieldsaye’s turf at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
The Hawks led 14-1 at quarter-time and then added 4.3 to nil in the second.
Led by the play of Freyja Pearce, Emily Field and Charlotte Edlin, Eaglehawk dominated the second half as it added 11.6 to a goal.
At the final siren the Two Blues were up 17.11 (113) to 1.1 (7).
Multiple goalkickers for the Hawks were Samantha Heron and Freyja Pearce, four; Lily den Houting and Charlotte Edlin, three.
Best for the Geoff West-coached Eaglehawk included Brianna Larkins, Kayla Cox and Samantha Heron.
Lucy Gorrie, Keisha Tonzing, Ireland O’Rourke and Paige Panczel were among the best for the Jake Donegan-coached Storm.
AFLCV senior women’s footy ladder:
Eaglehawk 3700 per cent, 8 points; Bendigo Thunder 0 per cent, 8 points; Golden Square 17,500 per cent, 4 points; Castlemaine 493, 4; Kyneton 20, 4; Strathfieldsaye 2.7, 0; North Bendigo 0.31, 0; Kerang 0, 0.
There are no matches on the Easter holiday weekend.
Round three will be played on April 23 from 2.30pm.
North Bendigo plays Bendigo Thunder at Hibo Hotel Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street.
Kerang takes on Castlemaine at Kerang’s Riverside Park.
Strathfieldsaye and Kyneton clash at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
Eaglehawk and Golden Square have the bye.
Written by Nathan Dole.