COLBINABBIN is a win away from capping a perfect run in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL’s A-grade netball competition.
Unbeaten in the home-and-away series, Colbinabbin dominated most of last Saturday’s second semi-final against the Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons.
Playing on its court at M.J. Morgan Oval, Colbinabbin raced to a 17-9 lead by quarter-time.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Grasshoppers then won term two, 13-9.
By half-time Colbinabbin led 30-18 against the Elly Lawton-coached White Hills.
Quarter three was to be the Demons’ best as they scored 12 goals, but Colbo added 13.
Colbinabbin seized control for a lot of the final term.
As the green and gold poured in 18 goals it kept the Demons to a tally of 10.
By the final siren the Grasshoppers were up 61-40 and through to their third grand final in a row.
Colbinabbin has finished runner-up the past two seasons.
The Grasshoppers will face White Hills or Mount Pleasant in the September 13 grand final at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
Mount Pleasant stayed in the premiership race as it won Sunday’s first semi-final against the Harlowe Huntly Hawks by 20 goals.
A closely-fought first half at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval went the way of the Anthea McCleary-coached Blues, 14-13 and 15-10.
Mount Pleasant won the third term, 10-8, and then broke clear in the last.
The Blues scored 20 goals in the final term and kept the brown and gold to a tally of eight goals.
At the final siren Mount Pleasant led 59-39.
The Blues will lock horns again with White Hills in the preliminary final at Elmore Recreation Reserve.
It was a terrific season by the Ashlea Sherlock and Kym Bell-coached Huntly which defeated Elmore in extra time of the elimination final.
Huntly won its way to the A-reserve grand final after a five-goal win against Mount Pleasant in the second semi-final.
The Hawks were up 53-48 at the final siren.
Mount Pleasant will now face Colbinabbin in the preliminary final.
The Grasshoppers charged to a 29-16 lead by half-time of a first semi-final clash with White Hills.
Both teams scored 12 goals in the third quarter before the Demons won the last, 17-14.
At the final siren Colbinabbin led 55-45.
Closest match on second semi-final day was in B-grade where White Hills took on Huntly.
The Demons led 11-9 at quarter-time before the Hawks swooped to win the second, 11-5.
White Hills regained the lead, albeit by a goal going into the final term.
The red and black was up 30-29 at three quarter-time and then poured in 10 goals as it kept Huntly to a tally of eight in the final term.
A 40-37 victory meant White Hills advanced to the grand final.
Huntly will now take on Mount Pleasant in the preliminary final.
The Blues won the first semi-final with Lockington Bamawm United by nine goals.
Mounts was up 16-13 at quarter-time and 27-22 by the long break.
A high-scoring third term went the way of the Blues, 13-10.
It was goal-for-goal throughout a lot of the final quarter.
Mount Pleasant won the term, 15-14, and celebrated a hard-fought 55-46 victory.
In B-reserve, Huntly dominated the second semi-final with White Hills.
The Hawks flew to a 12-7 lead by quarter-time and were up 26-11 by the main break.
Both teams scored 11 goals in the third term.
Huntly won the last, 11-6, on the way to a 48-28 result.
The Demons will face Mount Pleasant in the preliminary final.
After leading 30-28 at three quarter-time of the first semi against North Bendigo the Blues seized control in the final term.
Mounts poured in 17 goals on the way to a 47-36 victory against the red, white and blue.
A great season for Huntly in the 17-and-under competition kept rolling on.
The Hawks won the second semi-final against Mount Pleasant by 27 goals.
Huntly charged to a 16-8 lead by quarter-time and then won the second, 11-4.
A 16-goal lead going into the final term was 27 by the siren after the Hawks poured in 18 goals to record a 52-25 victory.
Mount Pleasant will take on White Hills in the preliminary final.
The Demons fired up for a 46-28 win against Leitchville Gunbower in the first semi on Lockington’s court.
White Hills led 13-7 at quarter-time and 25-15 by half-time.
The next two quarters went the way of the red and black, 15-8 and 6-5.
Lockington Bamawm United was too strong for White Hills in the second semi-final of the 15-and-under competition.
The LBU Cats charged to a 15-7 lead by quarter-time.
Both teams scored 11 goals in term two.
LBU won the next two quarters, 17-12 and 14-12.
By the final siren the Cats were up 57-42.
Huntly stayed in the title race as it won the first semi-final against Elmore by nine goals.
The Hawks led 7-6 at quarter-time and then dominated the second to lead 17-11 at half-time.
Huntly then won the third, 12-9.
Both line-ups added nine goals in the last as the brown and gold netted 38-29 victory.
In the 13-and-under competition, Lockington Bamawm United marked an 18-15 win against Colbinabbin in the second semi-final.
Final margin in the first semi was six goals as Elmore marked a 25-19 victory against Leitchville Gunbower.
Schedule for Saturday’s preliminary finals at Elmore Recreation Reserve:
17-and-under at 8.45am, court one: Mount Pleasant v White Hills.
13-and-under at 8.45am, court two: Colbinabbin v Elmore.
B-grade at 11.15am, court one: Huntly v Mount Pleasant.
15-and-under at 10am, court two: White Hills v Huntly.
A-reserve at 1pm, court one: Mount Pleasant v Colbinabbin.
B-reserve at 11.30am, court one: White Hills v Mount Pleasant.
A-grade at 2.30pm, court one: White Hills v Mount Pleasant.