A DOMINANT second quarter from Clonard College spearheaded by Geelong Falcons talents Lucy Marescuk and Stella Huxtable has helped the Geelong-based side take out the Division 1 Intermediate Girls title in the Herald Sun Shield today. It was far from easy against Ballarat Clarendon College with brick wall and co-captain Millie Lang bringing her own football and taking double-figure intercept marks. The girls from Geelong found a way through though, slotting three goals in the second term as part of the 10-point victory, 5.6 (36) to 4.2 (26) at ETU Stadium in Port Melbourne.

In an entertaining but contested clash throughout the day, Ballarat Clarendon had inside 50 chances, but could not make the most of them, as a team defence from Clonard denied them on the regular. It started off with Clarendon slotting the first goal in the 13th minute of the match with Sara Kennedy pulling down a strong pack mark and making no mistake. To that point, her side had been well on top, as Lang had not given Clonard a look inside 50. Then the likes of Huxtable and Marescuk got moving, and though Charli Hoey missed a shot on goal for Clonard’s first score in the 17th minute, she would soon put one through the big sticks, marking 30m out in the final minute from a rushed kick off the boot of a Ballarat defender. She slotted the goal and levelled the scores at quarter time despite Ballarat’s early dominance.

The second quarter truly was the difference between the sides, with the late goal to Clonard giving the College the momentum into the second term, and soon it was Cavalle Boxer marking 35m out from goal and making no mistake. Marescuk and Huxtable continued their dominance through the midfield with the former having a flying shot and missing, but soon it was the latter getting on the end of one. A nice intercept mark at the top of 50 from Hoey went to a pack and was cleanly taken by Huxtable who snapped and goaled to put her team 14 points up at the 15-minute mark of the second term. Then came Marescuk’s moment a few minutes later. The onballer won the hardball, burst from a stoppage fending off an opponent along the way, and though her first attempt just fell short, she won it at the next pack, steadied and slotted the goal through the middle to make it a 3.2 to 0.0 term opening up that 20-point lead at the main break.

Having not yet faced a challenge like the one they were at half-time, Ballarat Clarendon College needed to respond in the third term, and respond they did. Kennedy was producing the goods at both ends, taking some strong grabs and looking to move the ball, with a quick shot just bouncing into the behind post. Soon though, it would be the Taylor Mason show, with the forward slotting two goals in five minutes to cut the deficit back to eight points. Her first came from a free kick and her second from a nice mark and set shot straight in front. Charli McLennan – who kicked four goals in Ballarat’s semi-final win – had not been able to hit the scoreboard but was still looking dangerous, while Lexi Young was applying plenty of pressure.

Just when it looked like Ballarat would storm home, Huxtable won the ball from a forward stoppage, but it to a pack, and though the kick was quickly cleared by the Ballarat defender, it was a case of déjà vu as Hoey was in the right spot yet again to intercept and slam home an identical goal to that of the first term. Clonard continued to attack in the final seven minutes, almost looking like the Geelong side would break open the game and ice it there and then. But the likes of Brodie Mitchell, Jayme Lasky and Huxtable all had shots that missed, while Lang was still intercepting everything in her path. By the final break, the extra three behinds for Clonard had pushed the margin out to 17 points, and the Ballarat side was again on the back foot.

Now with everything on the line and just 20 minutes left in the match, both sides came out hot in the final term. Clonard College was keen on holding the lead it had built, whilst Clarendon kept attacking trying everything it could to get over the line. Kennedy and Lang were doing their best to create run, and though Kennedy was pinged for holding the ball twice in a minute, she tried to break the lines. It did pay off in the 14th minute when Lang fended off an opponent, got a handball away, received it back then snapped around her body to the danger zone 15m out from goal. It went over the back and Laura George ran onto it to slot a goal and make the deficit 10 points. Earlier in the term, McLennan had a golden opportunity from another Lang inside 50, but the talented goalkicker pulled the kick to the right for one behind.

Despite Lang and her side’s best effort, including a last quarter cameo from Sarah Burton, they ran out of time, as Marescuk and Huxtable continued their dominance through the midfield and were able to hold on with the siren sounding in Ballarat’s forward line with 10 points the difference. Deservingly, Marescuk’s work through stoppages and impact up forward earned her best afield honours, with Huxtable and Hoey the clear next best. Lasky and Steph Tripolino also did well, while for Ballarat Clarendon, Lang was the clear standout and arguably best afield had the medal gone to the losing side. Kennedy was next best, with Mason’s back-to-back goals proving crucial, and Young and Burton having moments. But the overall depth of Clonard shone, and deservedly took out the title by 10 points, 5.6 (36) to 4.2 (26).

BALLARAT CLARENDON 1.1 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 4.2 (26)
CLONARD COLLEGE 1.1 | 4.3 | 5.6 | 5.6 (36)

GOALS:

Ballarat Clarendon: T. Mason 2, S. Kennedy, L. George
Clonard College: C. Hoey 2, C. Boxer, S. Huxtable, L. Marescuk

RMC BEST:

Ballarat Clarendon: M. Lang, S. Kennedy, T. Mason, L. Young, S. Burton
Clonard College: L. Marescuk, S. Huxtable, C. Hoey, J. Lasky, S. Tripolino