Eastern Ranges Women’s Region side takes out the State Title.

The 2024 Region Sides Championships were held in Ballarat on the weekend of 13/14 January. In a revised format to this year’s event, both the Women’s and Men’s sides were under pressure from the first jack roll.
The Men’s side was drawn against last year’s winners of the Gold and Silver tier events. While the Women’s side was drawn against last years Gold and Silvers tier runners-up. While the Men’s side did not enjoy the same success as the Women’s side, the group gave it their all. 

Meanwhile, the women’s side won their section and then played Ovens and Murray Region in the Final. The results of the Women’s section were: Eastern Ranges defeated Mornington Peninsula 50-13
Eastern Ranges defeated Sandbelt Region 43-33
Eastern Ranges defeated Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields Region 48-29 In a tense final Eastern Ranges went on to defeat Ovens and Murray 45-39. 

This is a great result for the Women’s side, winning their first title at this event, after the Men’s side won the event in 2021 

However, the win was not without its dramas, with Olivia Slade taking
ill on Saturday night (having been taken to hospital) following complications with a recent keyhole surgical procedure. Sandy Elliott, the travelling emergency and Side Manager, stepped in at
the last minute and contributed to the side’s success. Richard Sanzin then stepped
in as the Side manager. 

Over the coming weeks, the ‘gold cup’ will be touring those members Clubs from which the women representatives were selected – Blackburn, Heathmont, Lilydale, Mitcham and Yarra Glen.