BY NATHAN DOLE
Fight for top spot rages on
THE fight for top spot on the A-grade netball ladder rages on in Saturday’s 16th round in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
Leading teams Kangaroo Flat, Gisborne and Sandhurst will start favourites to continue their winning streak.
The ladder-leading Kangaroo Flat heads down the Calder Highway to play at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve from 2.30pm.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos have won 10 matches and start this round locked on 40 premiership points, but 15 per cent clear of second-placed Gisborne.
When the Roos and Magpies met in round seven it was Kangaroo Flat which scored an 86-33 victory at Dower Park.
The Kangaroos will be determined to put in another strong performance as they have the bye in the 17th round and are then at home a week later to face Gisborne.
The Chloe Hughes-coached Castlemaine had the bye last round.
It’s fourth against second as Strathfieldsaye faces Gisborne at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
Storm is on the rebound from a 37-goal loss to Kangaroo Flat.
Latest hit-out for Gisborne ended in a 54-goal victory against Eaglehawk.
Massive test for the Steph Freemantle-coached Storm against the reigning premier.
Strathfieldsaye will be keen to play well in the lead-up to an elimination final showdown with Eaglehawk on September 1.
Just 11 goals separated Storm and Gisborne in the round seven clash.
The run for the Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne in its build-up to another finals campaign involves the August 17 clash at home with Castlemaine, and August 24 showdown on Kangaroo Flat’s court.
Eaglehawk will be back on its court at Canterbury Park to take on Sandhurst.
When these teams met in round seven the Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst won 75-36 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
It’s the start of a testing two rounds for Storm which plays Gisborne and then travels to the QEO on August 17 to play Sandhurst.
The clash with the Dragons will be Storm’s latest before finals as it has the bye in the 18th round.
It’s a rest for Golden Square in A-grade, but the Bulldogs will play Maryborough in the other grades of netball at Fur Life Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.
South Bendigo has the bye.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Kangaroo Flat 198 per cent, 40 points; Gisborne 183, 40; Sandhurst 175, 36; Strathfieldsaye 95, 24; Eaglehawk 74, 24; Golden Square 63, 12; South Bendigo 66, 8; Castlemaine 55 ,4.