Rowdies secure shot at title

HELLENIC will play Casuarina in the NorZone women’s grand final after a Jessie Stevens hat- trick propelled the Rowdies to a 4- 0 victory over Mindil last night.

Casuarina led the Blues in the first week of semi-finals before conceding two late goals, forcing them into the Mindil playoff.

The Rowdies took a 3-0 lead into half-time after dominating the young Aces outfit with the bulk of pos- session and field position. Their dominance transferred to the scoreboard.

The first two goals came within 120 seconds of each other. The opener was scored after the Rowdies were awarded a penalty kick due to a Mindil handball.

Captain Stevens stood up and punished it into the bottom left corner. The strike was followed almost immediately by a Maria Moussa goal when she bustled past the Aces defence onto the ball, toeing it into an open net.

The killer blow landed seconds before halftime. Mindil couldn’t clear and Stevens pounced and hit on target, ensuring control of the contest.

She completed her treble 10 minutes after the resumption of play, gliding onto a loose ball inside the penalty area and heading on target.

Casuarina’s triumph makes for an intriguing decider, in which the Rowdies will be desperate to beat the premiers and snatch their third consecutive championship.