The Castlemaine FNC Women’s football side kicked off the weekend’s footy action when they tackled White Hills under lights at White Hills Recreation Reserve on Friday night.
The Magpie Women came into the match fresh off a morale-boosting win over Marong and were determined to keep the momentum going and win back their place on the top of the Central Vic AFL women’s ladder.
They did just that, kicking three goals to the Demons’ two in the first term to hold a handy 12-point lead at the first change and continued to build on that throughout the remaining three terms to come out winners by an impressive 82 points.
Eloise Gretgrix led the charge with 8 goals and Georgia Gordon chipped in 4.
Other top performers were Jemma Finning, Aisling Tupper, Brianna Burt and Eillish Cumming.
The percentage-boosting result saw the Magpies knock Eaglehawk down into second spot and secure their place back on top of the table.
The rest of the Magpie football and netball sides hit the road Saturday to face South Bendigo at Harry Trott Reserve in round 11 action.
The Seniors found themselves under the pump early with South slamming on four quick goals and holding the visitors to three points to lead by 24 points at the first break.
The onslaught continued in the second with the Bloods kicking another three answered goals before the Magpies managed to peg one back.
This unleashed the beast with a determined Castlemaine rousing from their slumber and smashing through another five goals to bridge the gap to an incredible seven points at half-time and leave the Bloods reeling.
After a rev up from their coach at the long break the Bloods regrouped in the third and kicked another three important goals, whilst shutting down the Magpie forwards and holding them to just three points. The margin had blown back out to 24 points at the final change.
Castlemaine continued to push forward in the last term and managed to wrangle another two goals, while holding the Bloods to just 1.2. But time ran out for the young Magpie side and they went down by 14 points.
Best for Castlemaine were Jack Chester with 4 goals, Kalan Huntly 2 goals, Michael Hartley, Joshua Eyre, Zachary Greeves, and Curtis McLennan.
In the Reserves, the home side got a jump on the Magpies in the first term kicking four goals to one and led by 26 points at quarter-time.
The side continued to dominate in the second term. The Magpies lifted in the third kicking three goals to South’s one to win the term but the Bloods retained a 24-point advantage at the final change.
The last quarter was a real scrap as both sides battled for possession the Bloods rewarded with two goals and the Magpies grabbing another one. However, the Magpies went down by 30 points.
Best was Tyson Hickey, Wilson Staples, Bodhi Robinson, Finley Palmer-Jennings, Oscar Giddings and Bradley Keogh.
The Under 18s took the game right up to their Bloods opponents and only trailed by seven points at quarter-time and nine points at half-time.
South inched ahead in the third term. But the Magpies did not lie down and kicked the last three goals of the game. Despite the valiant effort the Bloods held on to win by 20 points.
Best for Castlemaine was Cooper Mark, Oscar Giddings, Caspian Lord, Alex Welch, Saxon Sieber-Hogg and Zander Cotterell.
NETBALL
On the netball court in A Reserve, Castlemaien lost to a rampaging South side 76-21.
B Grade gave their absolute all but went down 68-38 at the final siren.
B Reserve lost to a strong Bloods side 83-13.
The Magpie 17 & Under produced a thriller to win their match 43-31.
THIS WEEKEND
All BFNL sides will enjoy a spell this weekend before the Magpies host Gisborne in round 12 action at the Camp Reserve on July 19.
The Women’s team also enjoy a week off and will then hit the road again to face North Bendigo under lights on Saturday July 19.
