-By Nathan Dole
POWERS in A-grade netball across the past six seasons, Sandhurst and Gisborne clash in this Saturday’s sixth round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
Match of the round between the Dragons and Bulldogs will start at 2.30pm.
For the past two Septembers it’s been the Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne which has claimed the premiership cup.
The Bulldogs’ run included a 40-39 win against Sandhurst in the 2023 grand final.
Previous four years and the Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst dominated.
An outstanding run by the maroon and blue included a 53-47 victory in the 2018 grand final.
This Saturday the Dragons and Bulldogs meet again at Queen Elizabeth Oval which is where so many of their great showdowns have been played.
Both teams are locked on three-one records with their sole defeat being to the unbeaten Kangaroo Flat.
In the split fifth round, Sandhurst scored a 75-32 victory in week one against South Bendigo at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval.
Gisborne has had a longer break as it was drawn to play Castlemaine which is not fielding an A-grade team.
The Bulldogs scored a 48-32 victory at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park in round four.
Kangaroo Flat will be back on its court at Dower Park this Saturday to take on Eaglehawk from 2.30pm.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos are in hot form.
Kangaroo Flat hit a season-high 73 goals in last Saturday’s win against Golden Square at Dower Park.
A powerful attack for the Roos has netted tallies of 64, 70, 64 and 73 goals in its four-match winning streak.
Another big test for the Jess Mangan-coached Strathfieldsaye Storm which starts this round on a one-four record and in sixth place.
Storm took it right up to Eaglehawk in last Saturday’s play at Canterbury Park.
Defences were on top for a lot of the contest as the Jannelle Hobbs-coached Hawks netted a 37-33 victory.
Golden Square faces South Bendigo on the Bulldogs’ court in Wade Street.
Both teams will be determined to hit back after big defeats.
The Lauren Bowles-coached South Bendigo could not halt Sandhurst’s charge in the match on Graeme Wright Memorial Cup day in Kennington.
A Golden Square line-up coached by Teigan Redwood will have learnt a lot from the match on the Kangaroos’ court.
It’s a bye for Eaglehawk in A-grade, but the Hawks will make their way down the Calder to play Castlemaine in all other grades at Camp Reserve.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Kangaroo Flat 210 per cent, 16 points; Sandhurst 160, 12; Gisborne 120, 12; Eaglehawk 80, 10; South Bendigo 79, 6; Strathfieldsaye 68, 4; Golden Square 55, 0.
League ladders after five rounds:
A-reserve:
Gisborne 177 per cent, 20 points; Sandhurst 165, 16; Kangaroo Flat 154, 16; Strathfieldsaye 96, 12; South Bendigo 107, 8; Eaglehawk 62, 4; Castlemaine 57, 4; Golden Square 59, 0.
B-grade:
Gisborne 238 per cent, 20 points; Kangaroo Flat 121, 16; South Bendigo 119, 16; Sandhurst 128, 12; Strathfieldsaye 98, 8; Golden Square 82, 4; Eaglehawk 61, 4; Castlemaine 46, 0.
B-reserve:
Gisborne 216 per cent, 20 points; Sandhurst 200, 20; Kangaroo Flat 177, 12; Strathfieldsaye 115, 12; South Bendigo 115, 8; Golden Square 90, 4; Eaglehawk 56, 4; Castlemaine 11, 0.
17-and-under:
Sandhurst 196 per cent, 20 points; Golden Square 201, 16; Gisborne 148, 16; Strathfieldsaye 165, 12; Kangaroo Flat 67, 6; Eaglehawk 63, 6; Castlemaine 59, 4; South Bendigo 34, 0.