NINE consecutive goals over the course of 62 minutes has propelled Caulfield Grammar to a 46-point win over Rowville Secondary College to take out the Herald Sun Shield Senior Girls Division 1 title. Caulfield – lead by best on ground Siena Farrell and captain Rosie Finster – slammed home seven first half goals and nine consecutive majors, keeping their opponents goalless up until the final six minutes of the match. Rowville kicked a couple of late majors to cut the deficit back to 46 points, but it was too little, too late as Caulfield ran out 9.9 (63) to 2.5 (17) victors at ETU Stadium yesterday.

The danger signs were there from the opening bounce, as Caulfield slammed home five goals to nil in the opening term, keeping the Rowville attack scoreless. Despite Rowville winning a fair chunk of clearances, the Caulfield defence was up to the task, and then rebounded down the other end of the ground a little too easily, with Finster slotting the opening goal off a free kick for kicking in danger. A minute later, Polly McArthur danced around an opponent, shaking off a would-be tackler, straightened up and slotted a second goal, all before Rowville had its first proper inside 50.

Farrell was racking up the ball easily and should have converted her first when a clever kick from Finster found her at the top of the goalsquare. The Sandringham Dragons talent set shot cannoned into the post, but it would not be long before Finster had her second with a quick snap out of nothing to make it three straight goals. Sophie Simpson had Rowville’s first genuine shot on goal with a flying shot under pressure, but it sailed out on the full, and her side had struggled to take any marks inside 50.

Up the other end, Kelsie Ternes was single-handedly keeping Caulfield from completely running away with the game, taking a number of intercept marks. The weight of numbers soon won out hough as Farrell set up Finster for her third in the 18th minute, then in the final few seconds, the captain found Farrell 10m out and this time, she made no mistake. The siren sounded and Caulfield Grammar was up 5.2 to 0.0 and holding a commanding 32-point lead at the first break.

Rowville was far more competitive after quarter time, but Caulfield still had control of the ball. Hayley McLaughlin was winning her fair share of the pill, with the Eastern Ranges winger even pulling down a contested mark in defence. She, Sophie Butterworth and Shelby Crothers were all working overtime to get Rowville back in the pocket, with dangerous goalsneak Georgia Knight also getting involved. They could not seemingly find the target though, with a lot more chances in the second term only yielding one behind. Meanwhile Caulfield added two goals in the final five minutes, undoing all the momentum Rowville had.

Jasmine Betts snapped a great goal off a step to break the goalless drought in the first 15 minutes of the quarter to make it a 40-0 score, and Ruby Dale got it to Farrell in the goalsquare who snapped her second with 90 seconds left in the half. A couple of minutes earlier, Crothers finally gave Rowville its first score with a behind, but her side would still head into the break 45 points down and facing a mountain of a comeback.

The third term was simply and arm-wrestle and looked like being a completely goalless quarter or the most part as rain threatened to derail the match. Knight and Zoe Samuel were looking incredibly imposing inside 50 for Rowville, as the side had some more chances, but it would be Caulfield that added three more behinds to Rowville’s solitary miss. One positive for the losing side was it was starting to move the ball more fluently, starting with Ternes at full-back, and Tyler Mills providing extra support in the defensive 50. Caulfield was also just missing some chances, with shots on goal falling short, but Farrell continuing to dominate the contest. Just when it looked like no-one would kick a goal, Lily Wenk won a free kick just before the siren and slotted the goal to make it a 53-point lead at the final break.

With the game done and dusted in the last, Rowville’s Ternes was determined not to give in, winning a crucial one-on-one in the goalsquare in the opening minute to emphasise just how impressive she had been all game. But two minutes in, Caulfield would place the icing on the sweetest cake when Samuel handballed out of congestion to a running Aimee Herington to slot the goal straight in front and make it a 59-point lead. From there, Caulfield owned the first half of the final quarter and it looked a real possibility that Rowville would not score a goal.

Sienna Walker had her side’s best chance from a set shot 25m out straight in front but missed. It took a bit of Knight magic inside 50 to snap around her body from 45m out and slam home Rowville’s first of the contest. That, along with a goal to Butterworth in the final few seconds of the game gave the losing side something to smile about knowing they had fought to the very end. Knight was outstanding in the final term, with McLaughlin, Crothers and Mills all stepping up and Ternes a clear best-on for Rowville. Caulfield had so many contributors with Dragons Ruby Dale and Betts having imposing moments, while Samuel got better as the game went on. No one could deny Farrell was the best on ground though, and Finster had flicked the early switch to set up the famous victory.

CAULFIELD GRAMMAR 5.2 | 7.4 | 8.7 | 9.9 (63)
ROWVILLE SECONDARY 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 2.5 (17)

GOALS:

Caulfield: R. Finster 3, S. Farrell 2, P. McArthur, J. Betts, L. Wenk, A. Herington
Rowville: G. Knight, S. Butterworth

RMC BEST:

Caulfield: S. Farrell, R. Finster, Z. Samuel, R. Dale, J. Betts
Rowville: K. Ternes, H. McLaughlin, S. Crothers, G. Knight, T. Mills