UNDER-18 GIRLS FOOTBALL

Bushrangers dominate

The Murray Bushrangers have continued their winning form with another strong performance against the Bendigo Pioneers at Epsom Huntly Reserve in Bendigo.

In warm, blustery conditions, the Bushrangers were led by Eloise Ashely-Cooper at half-back and Becky Webster in the midfield.

Chelsea Knight slotted through a brilliant left-foot goal kicking with the wind in the first quarter as the Bushrangers kept the Pioneers scoreless to take the lead by 20 points at the first change.

Textbook footy was on display in the second quarter when Chelsea Hargreaves positioned herself front and centre in the goal square to boot another goal for the Bushrangers, who took a 27-point lead into half-time.

Despite pressure from the Pioneers in the third term, the Bushrangers managed to find open spaces through their classy handball patterns and again held the Pioneers scoreless.

Tamara Smith had the ball on a string, while Claudia McKimmie was marking strongly around the ground and kicked her third.

Sophie Damon continued to bring her teammates into the game and kicked a goal when she took a strong mark, wheeled around and played on.

Julia Harvey was also busy in the middle and up forward, kicking a goal.

The final term saw a lot of defensive pressure, with Charli Boschetti instrumental in laying seven tackles.

Webster proved why she is one of the best players in the competition, breaking the lines and hitting her teammates lace out on both sides of the body.

The Pioneers added two goals and held the Bushrangers goalless, but it wasn’t enough as the Bushrangers prevailed by 40 points.

The Bushrangers take on eighth-placed Gippsland Power in their round three match on Sunday.