BY NATHAN DOLE
Gisborne outplays Flat on Kangaroos’ court
REIGNING premier Gisborne showed in Saturday’s 18th round it’s going to be tough to topple in the upcoming Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL A-grade netball finals series.
A 53-31 victory on Kangaroo Flat’s court at Dower Park meant Gisborne finished the home-and-away series on top of the ladder and has a rest when the finals start next weekend.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne was determined to take the points after a 43-49 loss to Kangaroo Flat in round nine at Gardiner Reserve.
This time it was the team in red, white and blue which controlled a lot of the play to inflict the Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos third defeat of the season.
As Gisborne takes a break, Kangaroo Flat will be at Queen Elizabeth Oval next Saturday to face Sandhurst in a qualifying final.
Sandhurst warmed up for another finals campaign by dominating play at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
The Tamara Gilchrist also reached the century mark against the Magpies.
At the final siren the Dragons led 96-23 to complete what a tough afternoon for the Chloe Hughes-coached Castlemaine.
At Eaglehawk the Kylie Piercy-coached Hawks won a closely-fought clash with South Bendigo.
Just five goals separated the teams at the final siren as the Two Blues held on for a 34-29 victory against the Alicia McGlashan-coached Bloods.
It was a rest for Strathfieldsaye in A-grade, but Storm played Maryborough in all other netball grades at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
The Steph Freemantle-coached Storm will play Eaglehawk in Sunday’s elimination final.
Golden Square had the bye and ends the season on a much-improved win-loss tally of 4-10 for the Teigan Redwood-coached team.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Gisborne 207 per cent, 52 points; Sandhurst 200, 48; Kangaroo Flat 199, 44; Eaglehawk 72, 28; Strathfieldsaye 81, 24; Golden Square 65, 16; South Bendigo 69, 8; Castlemaine 43, 4.
Round 18 scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Kangaroo Flat 36 lt Gisborne 47, Eaglehawk 23 lt South Bendigo 42, Castlemaine 30 lt Sandhurst 63, Strathfieldsaye 56 d Maryborough 38, Golden Square bye.
B-grade:
Kangaroo Flat 40 d Gisborne 31, Eaglehawk 37 lt South Bendigo 46, Castlemaine 29 lt Sandhurst 44, Strathfieldsaye 62 d Maryborough 23, Golden Square bye.
B-reserve:
Kangaroo Flat 25 lt Gisborne 58, Eaglehawk 31 lt South Bendigo 40, Castlemaine 36 lt Sandhurst 72, Strathfieldsaye 107 d Maryborough 20, Golden Square bye.
17-and-under:
Kangaroo Flat 30 lt Gisborne 70, Eaglehawk 27 lt South Bendigo 32, Castlemaine 38 lt Sandhurst 62, Strathfieldsaye 45 d Maryborough 44, Golden Square bye.
Schedule for Saturday’s qualifying finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval:
17-and-under at 10am: Golden Square v Maryborough.
B-reserve at 11.20am: Gisborne v Strathfieldsaye.
B-grade at 12.40pm: Sandhurst v Kangaroo Flat.
A-reserve at 1pm: Strathfieldsaye v Sandhurst.
A-grade at 3.20pm: Sandhurst v Kangaroo Flat.
Schedule for Sunday’s elimination finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval:
17-and-under at 10am: Strathfieldsaye v Gisborne.
B-reserve at 11.20am: Kangaroo Flat v South Bendigo.
B-grade at 12.40pm: Strathfieldsaye v South Bendigo.
A-reserve at 1pm: Kangaroo Flat v Maryborough.
A-grade at 3.20pm: Eaglehawk v Strathfieldsaye.
League ladders:
A-reserve:
Gisborne 217 per cent, 64 points; Strathfieldsaye 125, 48; Sandhurst 138, 44; Kangaroo Flat 125, 42; Maryborough 97, 38; South Bendigo 79, 24; Castlemaine 64, 12; Eaglehawk 64, 8; Golden Square 63, 8.
B-grade:
Gisborne 188 per cent, 56 points; Sandhurst 161, 56; Kangaroo Flat 144, 56; Strathfieldsaye 111, 40; South Bendigo 93, 30; Castlemaine 75, 20; Eaglehawk 82, 18; Golden Square 74, 12; Maryborough 43, 0.
B-reserve:
Sandhurst 216 per cent, 64 points; Gisborne 185, 56; Strathfieldsaye 140, 44; Kangaroo Flat 121, 40; South Bendigo 120, 36; Eaglehawk 103, 24; Golden Square 67, 16; Castlemaine 54, 8; Maryborough 32, 0.
17-and-under:
Sandhurst 219 per cent, 60 points; Golden Square 168, 60; Maryborough 106, 44; Strathfieldsaye 105, 32; Gisborne 108, 30; Castlemaine 100, 26; South Bendigo 77, 24; Eaglehawk 50, 12; Kangaroo Flat 41, 0.