BY NATHAN DOLE
Top three net emphatic victories
THE competition’s top three teams all recorded emphatic victories in Saturday’s 14th round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
A 17-7 opening quarter put Elmore in control of its match on Heathcote’s court at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve.
The Allira Holmes and Gabe Richards-coached Elmore skipped away to lead 37-17 by half-time.
Heathcote kept working hard, but Elmore’s slick passing through mid-court and strong attack reigned supreme in a 71-38 result.
For the Brooke Bolton and Kelsey Hayes-coached Saints the focus now switches to next Saturday’s match against the fourth-placed Leitchville Gunbower at Leitchville.
The Winslow White Hills Demons won three of four quarters against North Bendigo at the Scott Street ground in White Hills.
The Lauren Bowles-coached Demons charged to a 14-3 lead by quarter-time.
North Bendigo hit back strongly to win the second term, 10-3.
The red and black regained control to win the third, 11-5.
A 14-goal buffer for White Hills going into the last quarter was 24 by the end as it completed a 54-30 victory against the Kiralee Kinder and Stacey Kingdon-coached North Bendigo.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks faced a huge task against the in-form Colbinabbin at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
The Jen McIntye-coached Colbinabbin charged to a 20-7 lead by quarter-time and then second the next term, 20-13.
A Huntly line-up coached by Kym Bell kept working hard, but Colbinabbin’s strong mid-court and goalers were too strong in this contest.
At the final siren the Grasshoppers led 82-35.
Mount Pleasant jumped a rung on the ladder after a 57-38 win against Lockington Bamawm United.
The Anthea McCleary-coached Blues outplayed the Ash Cullen-coached Cats at Toolleen.
Leitchville Gunbower had the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
White Hills 165 per cent, 48 points; Colbinabbin 141, 40; Elmore 124, 40; Leitchville Gunbower 125, 32; Heathcote 94, 28; Mount Pleasant 81, 12; North Bendigo 77, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 66, 8; Huntly 56, 8.
Highlight of next Saturday’s 15th round will be the showdown between Elmore and the Winslow White Hills Demons at Elmore Recreation Reserve.
Leitchville Gunbower will be back in action at Leitchville to take on Heathcote.
Colbinabbin faces Mount Pleasant at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval.
North Bendigo will be home at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street to play Huntly.
Lockington Bamawm United has the bye.
Round 14 scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Heathcote 40 lt Elmore 55, White Hills 46 d North Bendigo 29, Huntly 43 lt Colbinabbin 53, Mount Pleasant 43 lt Lockington Bamawm United 58, Leitchville Gunbower had the bye.
B-grade:
Heathcote 46 d Elmore 40, White Hills 43 d North Bendigo 42, Huntly 37 d Colbinabbin 28, Mount Pleasant 41 lt Lockington Bamawm United 58, Leitchville Gunbower had the bye.
B-reserve:
Heathcote 34 lt Elmore 37, White Hills 64 d North Bendigo 33, Huntly 55 d Colbinabbin 42, Mount Pleasant 37 lt Lockington Bamawm United 43, Leitchville Gunbower had the bye.
17-and-under:
Heathcote forfeit to Elmore, White Hills 36 d North Bendigo 26, Huntly 60 d Colbinabbin 27, Mount Pleasant 35 lt Lockington Bamawm United 36, Leitchville Gunbower had the bye.
15-and-under:
Heathcote 35 lt Elmore 44, White Hills 67 d North Bendigo 5, Huntly 53 d Colbinabbin 26, Mount Pleasant 50 d Lockington Bamawm United 31, Leitchville Gunbower had the bye.
13-and-under:
Heathcote 23 lt Elmore 36, White Hills 29 d North Bendigo 16, Huntly 46 d Colbinabbin 23, Mount Pleasant 12 lt Lockington Bamawm United 38, Leitchville Gunbower had the bye.
League ladders:
A-reserve:
White Hills 130 per cent, 48 points; Elmore 138, 40; Huntly 110, 30; Lockington Bamawm United 102, 30; Colbinabbin 102, 24; Mount Pleasant 98, 24; Leitchville Gunbower 97, 20; North Bendigo 79, 8; Heathcote 60, 0.
B-grade:
Leitchville Gunbower 157 per cent, 48 points; White Hills 127, 48; Huntly 127, 32; Lockington Bamawm United 114, 32; North Bendigo 85, 16; Heathcote 79, 16; Mount Pleasant 81, 12; Colbinabbin 68, 12; Elmore 84, 8.
B-reserve:
White Hills 173 per cent, 48 points; Lockington Bamawm United 123, 40; Huntly 118, 32; Mount Pleasant 100, 24; North Bendigo 94, 20; Colbinabbin 75, 20; Elmore 78, 14; Leitchville Gunbower 74, 14; Heathcote 79, 12.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 162 per cent, 36 points; Lockington Bamawm United 134, 34; Huntly 127, 32; Elmore 131, 30; Leitchville Gunbower 93, 16; White Hills 80, 14; North Bendigo 61, 6; Colbinabbin 60, 4.
15-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 276, 48; Lockington Bamawm United 156, 42; White Hills 137, 36; Elmore 117, 36; Huntly 118, 22; Leitchville Gunbower 92, 16; Heathcote 69, 16; Colbinabbin 69, 8; North Bendigo 14, 0.
13-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 327 per cent, 48 points; Leitchville Gunbower 413, 44; Elmore 182, 32; Huntly 145, 32; Heathcote 122, 28; Mount Pleasant 79, 20; Colbinabbin 38, 12; North Bendigo 28, 4; White Hills 25, 4.