SANDHURST and Gisborne face-off for a fourth time this season when they contest the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL’s A-grade netball qualifying final on Saturday.
Being on the court at Queen Elizabeth Oval at finals time is something both clubs have done hundreds of times.
The past two Septembers the Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne has achieved premiership glory.
The Dragons won all three showdowns with Gisborne across this season’s 16-round-home-and away series.
They met last Saturday at the QEO where the Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst overcame a nil-five start to record a 48-44 victory.
Although it’s yet to beat the maroon and blue this season the Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne can take a lot of belief from cutting the margin each time.
When they met in round six it was Sandhurst which dominated on the QEO court to win 50-32.
Next time they met was in the 13th round at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
A great contest ended in a 44-39 win for the Dragons.
The Dragons or Bulldogs will progress to a second semi-final showdown with the unbeaten Kangaroo Flat.
On Sunday it will be South Bendigo against Eaglehawk in the elimination final.
The Bloods and Hawks fought out a 47-all draw when they played under the QEO lights on Anzac Day.
In round 10 the Lauren Bowles-coached South Bendigo scored a 58-53 victory on Eaglehawk’s court in Canterbury Park.
After a long and successful run coaching White Hills in the Heathcote DFNL, Lauren Bowles returned to the Bendigo FNL this season to coach the Bloods.
Bowles, nee Cowling, was a mid-court star across several seasons with Kangaroo Flat which included a premiership victory and also earnt the Betty Thompson Medal as league fairest and best.
South Bendigo is up against an Eaglehawk team coached by Jannelle Hobbs.
An outstanding coaching record for Hobbs includes multiple premiership victories at Kangaroo Flat and also leading South Bendigo into finals campaigns.
In the A-reserve competition, Gisborne and Sandhurst meet in the qualifying final.
These teams played out a 46-all draw at the QEO in the sixth round.
Sandhurst marked the trek down the Calder by winning the round 13 match at Gardiner Reserve by 23 goals.
They met last Saturday at the QEO where Gisborne netted a 48-41 victory.
The winner will face Kangaroo Flat in the second semi-final.
On Sunday it will be South Bendigo against Strathfieldsaye fighting to stay in the premiership race.
This season’s meetings stand at one-all.
Strathfieldsaye won on the Bloods’ court at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval in round one by two goals.
In round eight South Bendigo scored a 52-43 win at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
It’s the Kangaroos and Bloods in the B-grade qualifying final on Saturday.
After the Roos had won the opening two matches with the red and white by 21 and six goals it was South Bendigo which took the points last Saturday.
A dramatic finish to the round 16 match at Harry Trott Oval ended in a 37-36 victory for the Bloods.
Winner of the qualifying final takes on the unbeaten Gisborne in the second semi.
Strathfieldsaye Storm will face Sandhurst in the elimination final.
The Dragons won the round two match in Storm territory by 11 goals.
Next time they met was the QEO where Strathfieldsaye won a high-scoring contest, 53-51.
In B-reserve, Kangaroo Flat and Sandhurst will contest the qualifying final.
The Dragons scored a nine-goal win against the Roos at the QEO in round four.
Latest clash between these teams was in the 11th round where Kangaroo Flat marked a 42-33 victory on its Dower Park court.
The unbeaten Gisborne has a rest rolling into the second semi-final.
Strathfieldsaye and South Bendigo will meet in the elimination final.
Storm won 42-29 in the season opener on the Bloods’ court at Harry Trott Oval.
The round eight match ended in a 48-29 win for Strathfieldsaye.
First-up in the finals series will be Strathfieldsaye and Golden Square in the 17-and-under qualifying final.
It’s two-one Storm’s way in its showdowns with the blue and gold.
In round four Golden Square dominated play to score a 45-31 win at Triple M Park.
Storm struck back for a 53-50 win on Golden Square’s court in Wade Street in the 11th round.
Last Saturday it was Strathfieldsaye which took the points in a 48-38 win against the Bulldogs at the Tannery Lane complex.
It will be Storm or the Bulldogs who progress to a second semi-final meeting with Sandhurst.
On Sunday it will be Gisborne or Kangaroo Flat which is eliminated from the flag race.
The Gisborne line-up will start favourite following wins by 24 and 27 goals against the Roos in rounds one and eight.
Schedule for Saturday’s qualifying finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo’s View Street:
17-under at 10am: Strathfieldsaye v Golden Square.
B-reserve at 11.20am: Kangaroo Flat v Sandhurst.
B-grade at 12.40pm: Kangaroo Flat v South Bendigo.
A-reserve at 2pm: Gisborne v Sandhurst.
A-grade at 3.20pm: Sandhurst v Gisborne.
Schedule for Sunday’s elimination finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo’s View Street:
17-under at 10am: Gisborne v Kangaroo Flat.
B-reserve at 11.20am: Strathfieldsaye v South Bendigo.
B-grade at 12.40pm: Strathfieldsaye v Sandhurst.
A-reserve at 2pm: South Bendigo v Strathfieldsaye.
A-grade at 3.20pm: South Bendigo v Eaglehawk.