BY NATHAN DOLE
Kangaroos dominate clash on Castlemaine’s court
KANGAROO Flat almost marked a 100-goal victory on Castlemaine’s court in Saturday’s 16th round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
The ladder-leading Kangaroos continued a strong build-up to another finals campaign as they poured in 115 goals at Camp Reserve.
Just as impressive was the defensive intensity of the Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos to hold the Magpies to a tally of 17 goals.
Was another tough afternoon for the Chloe Hughes-coached Castlemaine.
At Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park it was fifth against third as the Hawks took on Sandhurst.
The Kylie Piercy-coached Hawks struggled to stop Sandhurst’s slick movement from mid-court to attack.
At the final whistle the Tamara Gilchrist-coached Dragons led 73-28.
Strathfieldsaye had home-court advantage at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane as it took on Gisborne.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne doubled Storm’s score in the opening term to lead 16-8 at quarter-time.
Term two was to be the Bulldogs’ best of the contest as they scored 19 goals and held Strathfieldsaye to a tally of five.
It was more of the same in the third as Gisborne led 52-17 at a quarter to play.
The Steph Freemantle-coached Storm lifted to achieved a match-high nine goals in the last, but Gisborne added 13 on the way to a 65-26 victory.
It was a rest for Golden Square in A-grade, but the blue and gold played Maryborough in all other grades at Fur Life Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.
South Bendigo had the bye.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Kangaroo Flat 218 per cent, 44 points; Gisborne 187, 44; Sandhurst 180, 40; Strathfieldsaye 88, 24; Eaglehawk 70, 24; Golden Square 63, 12; South Bendigo 66, 8; Castlemaine 49, 4.
In next Saturday’s 17th round, Golden Square will fight to hold sixth place as it plays on South Bendigo’s court at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street.
Sandhurst will be back at Queen Elizabeth Oval to take on Strathfieldsaye.
Gisborne plays Castlemaine on the Bulldogs’ court at Gardiner Reserve.
It’s a rest for Eaglehawk in A-grade, but the Hawks will head west to Maryborough’s Princes Park to play the Magpies in all other netball grades.
Kangaroo Flat has the bye.
Round 16 scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Strathfieldsaye 49 lt Gisborne 71, Eaglehawk 16 lt Sandhurst 70, Castlemaine 37 lt Kangaroo Flat 68, Golden Square 46 d Maryborough 34, South Bendigo bye.
B-grade:
Strathfieldsaye 34 lt Gisborne 58, Eaglehawk 41 lt Sandhurst 62, Castlemaine 37 lt Kangaroo Flat 47, Golden Square 60 d Maryborough 41, South Bendigo bye.
B-reserve:
Strathfieldsaye 45 lt Gisborne 46, Eaglehawk 31 lt Sandhurst 54, Castlemaine 25 lt Kangaroo Flat 54, Golden Square 56 d Maryborough 36, South Bendigo bye.
17-and-under:
Strathfieldsaye 50 d Gisborne 42, Eaglehawk 18 lt Sandhurst 68, Castlemaine 58 d Kangaroo Flat 26, Golden Square 55 d Maryborough 31, South Bendigo bye.
League ladders:
A-reserve:
Gisborne 217 per cent, 56 points; Kangaroo Flat 129, 42; Sandhurst 140, 40; Strathfieldsaye 126, 40; Maryborough 97, 34; South Bendigo 74, 16; Castlemaine 69, 12; Eaglehawk 63, 8; Golden Square 61, 8.
B-grade:
Gisborne 189 per cent, 52 points; Kangaroo Flat 145, 52; Sandhurst 161, 48; Strathfieldsaye 111, 36; South Bendigo 89, 22; Castlemaine 82, 20; Eaglehawk 77, 14; Golden Square 74, 12; Maryborough 43, 0.
B-reserve:
Sandhurst 225 per cent, 56 points; Gisborne 179, 48; Strathfieldsaye 131, 40; Kangaroo Flat 129, 40; South Bendigo 118, 28; Eaglehawk 98, 20; Golden Square 67, 16; Castlemaine 55, 8; Maryborough 34, 0.
17-and-under:
Golden Square 161 per cent, 56 points; Sandhurst 232, 52; Maryborough 104, 40; Strathfieldsaye 109, 28; Castlemaine 104, 24; Gisborne 103, 24; South Bendigo 81, 20; Eaglehawk 48, 12; Kangaroo Flat 41, 0.