THE fight to hold or grab fifth place on the ladder will be raged across Saturday’s 18th round in Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL netball.
Just who qualifies for the A-reserve, 17-under, 15-under and 13-under elimination finals will be decided in the last round of the home-and-away series.
Top five in A-grade is settled, but there will be plenty to play for as teams build for finals or aim to finish on a winning note.
Match of the day in A-grade will be at Toolleen where Mount Pleasant takes on Colbinabbin.
It’s third against first on the Blues’ court.
Been a superb effort by the Anthea McCleary-coached to have notched 11 wins and be assured of a qualifying final berth.
The Blues are up against the unbeaten Colbinabbain which has has regularly surpassed the 70-goal mark.
When Mounts and Colbinabbin met in round nine the Jen McIntyre-coached Grasshoppers won 72-38 on their court at M.J. Morgan Oval.
As Mount Pleasant had the bye last Saturday the Grasshoppers raced to an 81-40 win at home against Huntly.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks will be on their court at Strauch Reserve for this Saturday’s showdown with Heathcote.
The Ashlea Sherlock and Kym Bell-coached Huntly will be keen for a confidence-lifting win against the Saints.
When they met in round nine it was Huntly which won 65-49 on the Saints court at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
The fifth-placed Huntly will meet Elmore which has the bye this round in the elimination final on August 24 at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street.
Another big test for the Anna Dundon-coached Saints who played White Hills last Saturday.
It’s the clash of the Bulldogs and Bombers this Saturday as North Bendigo will be at home against Leitchville Gunbower.
When they met in round nine the red, white and blue won 56-31.
The Kiralee Kinder-coached North Bendigo will be chasing a hat-trick of wins.
The Bulldogs followed up the round 16 win against Heathcote by scoring a 50-29 victory at Lockington last Saturday.
Latest hit-out for the Grant Matthews-coached Leitchville Gunbower was at Elmore.
The Bombers worked hard in a 44-59 loss on the Bloods’ court.
Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons will warm up for another finals campaign by playing Lockington Bamawm United.
The Demons will be in the Scott Street den to face the Cats.
Back in round nine the Elly Lawton-coached Demons won at Lockington by 29 goals.
An LBU line-up coached by Kerryn Giorgianni and Shelby Stone has put some strong performances together in the second half of the season.
Elmore has the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Colbinabbin 246 per cent, 60 points; White Hills 121, 48; Mount Pleasant 129, 44; Elmore 96, 38; Huntly 90, 32; North Bendigo 99, 26; Leitchville Gunbower 71, 12; Lockington Bamawm United 67, 8; Heathcote 56, 4.
A highlight of this Saturday’s play in A-reserve will be the White Hills and Lockington Bamawm United clash in White Hills.
The Demons start the round a win, but seven per cent in front of the fifth-placed LBU.
In the 17-and-under competition, Leitchville Gunbower and Lockington Bamawm United are separated by just two points in fifth and sixth place.
The LG Bombers will start favourite on North Bendigo’s court.
Huge test for LBU which will play the third-placed White Hills.
It’s 28 and 26 points for Huntly and Leitchville Gunbower as they sit on the fifth and sixth rungs of the 15-and-under ladder.
The Hawks and Bombers will start favourite to win their matches.
Huntly takes on Heathcote, and the LG line-up will play in North Bendigo.
At 13-and-under level it’s Heathcote and Mount Pleasant locked on 24 points in fifth and sixth place.
Heathcote can advance to the elimination final by winning at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
Mount Pleasant must beat the second-placed Colbinabbin at Toolleen and also needs the Hawks to upset the Saints or it’s season over.
Heathcote DFNL netball ladders after 17 rounds:
A-reserve:
Huntly 152 per cent, 52 points; Mount Pleasant 153, 44; Colbinabbin 118, 36; North Bendigo 107, 28; Lockington Bamawm United 101, 24; White Hills 108, 20; Elmore 54, 8; Leitchville Gunbower 54, 0.
B-grade:
White Hills 148 per cent, 56 points; Huntly 150, 52; Lockington Bamawm United 103, 38; Mount Pleasant 111, 34; Heathcote 110, 32; North Bendigo 92, 24; Colbinabbin 87, 16; Elmore 81, 16; Leitchville Gunbower 49, 4.
B-reserve:
Huntly 171 per cent, 60 points; Mount Pleasant 136, 42; White Hills 128, 42; North Bendigo 115, 36; Heathcote 98, 34; Lockington Bamawm United 107, 28; Elmore 98, 20; Leitchville Gunbower 40, 6; Colbinabbin 64, 4.
17-and-under:
Huntly 215 per cent, 54 points; Mount Pleasant 157, 52; White Hills 156, 44; Elmore 96, 40; Leitchville Gunbower 99, 28; Lockington Bamawm United 132, 26; Heathcote 60, 12; North Bendigo 56, 8; Colbinabbin 40, 8.
15-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 393 per cent, 60 points; White Hills 185, 52; Elmore 139, 46; Colbinabbin 98, 32; Huntly 119, 28; Leitchville Gunbower 85, 26; Heathcote 47, 18; North Bendigo 43, 6; Mount Pleasant 37, 4.
13-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 335, 60; Colbinabbin 224, 52; Elmore 205, 48; Leitchville Gunbower 123, 32; Heathcote 88, 24; Mount Pleasant 73, 24; North Bendigo 69, 20; Huntly 34, 8; White Hills 26, 4.