The Marong Youth Girls
have won the 2010 Bendigo Youth Girls Grand Final in the tightest game in Youth
Girls history.
Played on the expanses
of Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park, minor premiers Huntly went into the game as
favourites, having not lost a game since round 2 of the home and away season.
Marong, however, having tasted defeat in last year’s grand final, were
determined to ensure that their brigade of final year players were farewelled with
a mighty effort.
The ground conditions
reflected Victoria’s wettest winter in thirteen years, and with another inch of
rain falling in Bendigo overnight, Dower Park resembled a mud bath. From the
opening bounce the match was a tight tussle, with neither team able to gain an
advantage. Goals were difficult to come by and the leading margin never exceeded
eight points throughout the match. With seconds left on the clock in the final
quarter, Marong, trailing by a point, were able to rush a behind as the siren
sounded, creating the first drawn grand final in Youth Girls history.
After a two minute
gathering with their respective coaches, Huntly and Marong then took the field
for two additional five minute periods of play. Huntly got the jump on Marong
early, scoring a behind within the first two minutes of extra time. With the
rain teeming down, behinds were rare and goals extinct by this stage. Huntly
defended and defended brilliantly for all but the final seconds of the final
extra time term. A Marong free kick was awarded in their forward line moments
before the siren sounded. A Marong behind was scored after the siren from the
free kick, drawing the game once again and sending it into the first ever Youth
Girls ‘Golden Score’ scenario.
Exhausted, wet and mud
coated, the match resembled a gladiator-like survival of the fittest contest.
The girls defiantly continued to battle the match out, eager to be the first
team to score and claim victory. A four hundred strong crowd groaned, winced
and cheered alongside the girls as the ball was unable to move beyond the half forward
lines of both teams. After around twelve minutes of extra time, it was Marong’s
Jess Day who was able to permeate the defence and score the most important and
match winning behind. As the siren sounded acknowledging Marong’s triumph, both
teams fell to the mud exhausted from the occasion. The crowd, knowing they’d
just witnessed something special, applauded the efforts of both teams. With the
presentation of a premiership cup a mere formality, both clubs were acknowledged
for their outstanding display of sportsmanship, courage, endurance and willingness
to give their best.
Marong 3-7-25 defeated
Huntly 3-6-24
Best on ground:
Michaela Perceval (Marong); Shelley Tuohey (Huntly)
Last Modified on 18/08/2010 13:56