Sport
6 September, 2024
Highview College reach Pool B grand final of Herald Sun Shield in first attempt
A stellar effort from Highview College saw them reach the grand final of pool B of the Herald Sun Shield in the division two girls competition, where they would eventually fall to a powerful Our Lady of Sion outfit at Casey Fields.
Nevertheless, it was a great success for sports co-ordinator Luke Treacy and the program, which saw it break through for the first time into the competition’s elite, and what’s more, picking up their first win at the first time of asking.
After a patient wait which saw St Paul’s Anglican Grammar School drop off the schedule, Highview bided their time and waited for their first game at 10.55 am on Wednesday morning against Catholic Regional College Sydenham.
The first minute of the game showed it was worth the wait as Highview got off to a dream start, with Ella Gourley scoring the first goal of the morning from close range.
Sydenham, who needed to win to stay alive in the competition, were kicking with the wind in the first. half, and would soon dominate play and territory.
Yet the defensive structure held up soundly for Highview, restricting Sydenham to three behinds before a goal late in the half meant Highview would trail by three points at half time.
The second half saw Highview take advantage of kicking with the breeze, and they constantly asked questions of the Sydenham defensive unit.
However, it wouldn’t be until midway through the second half, where Mahli Stone would goal from range, and after surviving some tense moments late in the game, Highview would take victory, kicking 2.1 (13) to 1.3 (9).
With Sydenham losing both of their pool games, the win meant Highview had progressed through to the grand final regardless of their result against Our Lady of Sion.
As it turned out, the win would be crucial, given the Box Hill-based college would dominate affairs in Highview’s second pool game.
A fierce five-goal first half where Our Lady of Sion would dominate against the breeze, coupled with a shoulder knock to Bendigo Pioneers representative Gourley, meant Highview were never able to recover, and Our Lady of Sion kicked six second half goals to ensure they would win by 73 points, kicking 11.7 (73) and leaving Highview scoreless.
Highview would earn a rematch with Our Lady of Sion in the grand final straight afterwards, and to Highview’s credit, they were able to adjust magnificently, and stayed in the game for long periods of time.
While Our Lady of Sion would continue to dominate, this time, they didn’t have it all their own way, as Highview restricted them to one goal for the first half from seven scoring shots.
Our Lady of Sion continued to control the second half of play in the grand final as they showed their class.
However, it was a tribute to Highview’s defensive efforts that despite their gulf in class, with Our Lady of Sion boasting five players with Coates Talent League experience and a further four with exposure to senior women’s football, they could restrict their opposition to just two goals for the afternoon.
In the end, Our Lady of Sion would progress through to the grand final of division two, scoring 2.12 (24) and keeping Highview scoreless.
The result means that Highview’s division two dreams are over, but it was an encouraging first-up effort in the Shield competition.