BY NATHAN DOLE
Leaders aim to build momentum
THE top three in the A-grade netball premiership race will aim to build on their winning momentum in Saturday’s 15th round in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
The ladder-leading Kangaroo Flat will be on its court at Dower Park to take on Strathfieldsaye Storm from 2.30pm.
Since a 42-47 loss to Sandhurst at Queen Elizabeth Oval in round 10 the Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos have won their past three matches.
Latest hit-out for the Roos was at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park which it won 75-26.
It’s a huge challenge for the fourth-placed Strathfieldsaye.
A 42-goal win against Castlemaine at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye last Saturday lifted the Steph Freemantle-coached Storm to fourth on the ladder.
In the split sixth round it was the Kangaroos who netted a 59-31 victory at Strathfieldsaye.
A lot of Storm’s focus in the next three rounds will be fine-tuning its play for an elimination final showdown with Eaglehawk on September 1.
Gisborne returns to its court at Gardiner Reserve to take on Eaglehawk.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne is on a hat-trick of wins.
The reigning premier has struck brilliantly since a 43-49 loss at home to Kangaroo Flat in round nine.
Gisborne won last Saturday’s match on Golden Square’s court at Fur Life Oval by 62 goals.
Massive task for the Kylie Piercy-coached Eaglehawk in trying to halt Gisborne’s slick movement from defence through mid-court and into attack.
The Hawks have played well to win six matches so far.
Sandhurst takes on Golden Square at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
After an extended break because of inter-league, a bye and then scheduled to play Maryborough, Sandhurst finally return to the court last Saturday.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst dominated play at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington to score a 69-30 victory.
It was the first match for Sandhurst since a 42-31 defeat on June 29 at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
When the maroon and blue took on Golden Square on Ron Best Memorial Shield day it was Sandhurst which won by 46 goals on the Wade Street court.
It’s a tough run for the Teigan Redwood-coached Golden Square which played the reigning premier last Saturday and now takes on the runners-up of ’23 this round.
It’s a rest for South Bendigo in A-grade, but the Bloods will make their way to Maryborough’s Princes Park to play the Magpies in the other four grades.
Castlemaine has the bye.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Kangaroo Flat 195 per cent, 36 points; Gisborne 169, 36; Sandhurst 175, 32; Strathfieldsaye 103, 24; Eaglehawk 81, 24; Golden Square 63, 12; South Bendigo 66, 8; Castlemaine 55, 4.