A late goal to forward Elizabeth Snell lifted the Bendigo Pioneers under-18 girls to their first win of the NAB League competition.
Snell took a mark in the goalsquare and kicked truly to give the Pioneers a 3.3 (21) to 2.6 (18) win over the Eastern Ranges.
"The girls were terrific in their endeavours,'' an elated coach Shawn McCormick said.
"To be honest, we probably didn't play as well as we did in round one, but we managed to win the game which was terrific for the girls."
Skipper Eloise Gretgrix was brilliant for the Pioneers across half-back, while Snell and Maeve Tupper won plenty of the ball through the midfield.
Centre half-back Tara Slender was the general of an impressive back six.
Related: HDFNL club-by-club season previews
"Eastern probably had more forward entries than we did, but our backline was tremendous,'' McCormick said.
Midfielder Brooke Hards and centre half-forward Hannah Stewart were also instrumental in the win.
"Eastern defeated Dandenong by three or four goals last week, so it's pleasing for us to defeat a metro-based team,'' McCormick said.
Meanwhile, the Pioneers' girls development squad also won on Saturday.
The Pioneers' won 6.3 (39) to 4.6 (30), with Coad, Martin, Hopkins, Thompson, Di Danato and Stubbings the better players.
"To walk away with two victories for the day was a great effort by all the girls,'' McCormick said.
Next week the Pioneers travel to Geelong to take on premiership fancy the Geelong Falcons.
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.
