-By Nathan Dole
IT’S been many weeks since Elmore has not featured in the top five on the A-grade netball ladder in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL.
Elmore starts Saturday’s fourth round on the sixth rung following last week’s three-goal loss to the Harlowe Huntly Hawks at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
The task for the Annie Hockey-coached Elmore does not become easier as it faces Mount Pleasant in this Saturday’s action.
A bonus for Elmore is home-court advantage when the match against the unbeaten league leader starts at 2.30pm.
It’s been a superb start by the Anthea McCleary-coached Mount Pleasant which beat Heathcote in round one by 37 goals at M.J. Morgan Oval in Colbinabbin.
Since then the Blues have defeated Lockington Bamawm United and Leitchville Gunbower by identical margins of 30 goals.
Another big match will be at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street where the Bulldogs take on the Harlowe Huntly Hawks from 1.30pm.
Both teams marked important wins in round three.
The Kiralee Kinder-coached Bulldogs broke their hoodoo against White Hills in a 48-37 victory on the court at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street.
Just a little further north it was the Ashlea Sherlock and Kym Bell-coached Huntly which claimed a 43-40 victory against Elmore.
The Bulldogs and Hawks start this round perched on the fifth and second rungs on the ladder.
Lockington Bamawm United and Heathcote will be desperate to bank their first points of the season when they clash on Lockington’s court.
The Kerryn Giorgianni and Shelby Stone- coached LBU has had a daunting start to the season.
Although all matches were at home, Lockington Bamawm United could not stop the run of Huntly, Mount Pleasant or Colbinabbin to victory.
Heathcote returns to the court after a round three bye.
The Chloe Meulenmeesters-coached Heathcote met Mount Pleasant in round one and was then home at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve for a round two showdown with the powerful Colbinabbin team.
Leitchville Gunbower faces a big test against Colbinabbin.
The Grant Matthews-coached Leitchville Gunbower will play the Grasshoppers from 1.15pm in Leitchville.
Latest hit-out for the LG Bombers was on Mount Pleasant’s court at Toolleen where the Blues won by 30 goals.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin dominated play at Lockington to score a 79-24 victory.
White Hills has the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Mount Pleasant 208 per cent, 12 points; Huntly 140, 12; Colbinabbin 367, 8; White Hills 112, 8; North Bendigo 108, 4; Elmore 100, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 61, 0; Lockington Bamawm United 44, 0; Heathcote 30, 0.
League ladders:
A-reserve:
Huntly 260 per cent, 12 points; Mount Pleasant 242, 12; White Hills 160, 8; North Bendigo 136, 8; Colbinabbin 131, 4; Lockington Bamawm United 69, 4; Elmore 48, 0; Heathcote 44, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 29, 0.
B-grade:
Huntly 237 per cent, 12 points; White Hills 175, 12; Mount Pleasant 153, 10; Lockington Bamawm United 74, 6; Heathcote 121, 4; Elmore 84, 4; Colbinabbin 70, 0; North Bendigo 48, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 29, 0.
B-reserve:
Huntly 195 per cent, 12 points; Mount Pleasant 158, 8; North Bendigo 147, 8; White Hills 133, 8; Heathcote 113, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 97, 4; Colbinabbin 73, 0; Elmore 69, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 29, 0.
17-and-under:
Huntly 265 per cent, 12 points; Mount Pleasant 187, 12; White Hills 143, 12; Lockington Bamawm United 99, 4; Elmore 87, 4; Heathcote 77, 4; Colbinabbin 60, 0; North Bendigo 48, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 46, 0.
15-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 278 per cent, 12 points; Elmore 144, 10; White Hills 187, 8; Leitchville Gunbower 96, 8; Colbinabbin 106, 4; Heathcote 65, 4; Huntly 69, 2; Mount Pleasant 45, 0; North Bendigo 34, 0.
13-and-under:
Elmore 875 per cent, 12 points; Lockington Bamawm United 486, 12; Leitchville Gunbower 325, 12; Colbinabbin 111, 4; North Bendigo 68, 4; Mount Pleasant 65, 4; Heathcote 41, 0; White Hills 18, 0; Huntly 11, 0.