BY NATHAN DOLE
Gisborne fights Kangaroos for top spot
GISBORNE will fight to hold top spot on the A-grade netball ladder when it meets Kangaroo Flat in Saturday’s 18th and final round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL home-and-away series.
It’s a big task for the ladder-leading Gisborne as it makes its way to the Kangaroos’ court at Dower Park.
The match of the day will start at 2.30pm.
Sole defeat for the Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne in 13 matches was against Kangaroo Flat in the ninth round.
When the Bulldogs and Kangaroos met at Gardiner Reserve it was the Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroo Flat which marked a 49-43 victory.
Latest hit-out for Gisborne was at home where it won 106-12 against Castlemaine.
Two defeats mean the Roos are in second place, but a chance to jump to the top rung.
By finishing in first place the Roos will earn a rest for qualifying and elimination final weekend on August 31 and September 1.
The only opponent Kangaroo Flat has not beaten this season was Sandhurst.
In both meetings it was the Tamara Gilchrist-coached Dragons which won 46-39 at Dower Park in round one, and 47-42 at Queen Elizabeth Oval in the 10th round.
The Roos will have been freshened up by the bye last round.
Sandhurst will warm up for a qualifying final against Gisborne or Kangaroo Flat by taking on Castlemaine this Saturday at Camp Reserve.
An 11-2 record has last season’s runner-up in third place.
Sandhurst’s defeats were against Gisborne by margins of four and 11 goals in rounds two and 11.
The Dragons dominated last Saturday’s home game against Strathfieldsaye Storm at the QEO to win by 55 goals.
Eaglehawk will be back on its court at Canterbury Park to take on South Bendigo.
The Kylie Piercy-coached Hawks will be aiming for a confidence-lifting win as they prepare to meet Strathfieldsaye in an elimination round.
The round nine match between the Hawks and Bloods went Eaglehawk’s way, 45-35, at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
A South Bendigo team coached by Alicia McGlashan will be determined to rebound from a 40-42 loss to Golden Square last round.
It’s a rest for the Steph Freemantle-coached Strathfieldsaye in A-grade, but Storm will be home at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane to play Maryborough in all other grades.
Golden Square has the bye.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Gisborne 210 per cent, 48 points; Kangaroo Flat 218, 44; Sandhurst 188, 44; Strathfieldsaye 81, 24; Eaglehawk 70, 24; Golden Square 65, 16; South Bendigo 68, 8; Castlemaine 45, 4