UPSET wins were celebrated by Lockington Bamawm United and White Hills after Saturday night’s play in the opening round of the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine-backed Heathcote DFNL senior footy season.
The LBU Cats were on home turf at Nichol Trading Oval in Lockington against last season’s runner-up in North Bendigo.
By half-time the visitors led 43-42.
Lockington Bamawm United dominated most of the third quarter and was rewarded with three goals as the Dogs added just two behinds.
By the last change the Jayden Howe-coached LBU led 62-45.
North Bendigo fought back with two unanswered goals in the last but it was the Cats who led 64-60 at the final siren.
The experienced Thomas Leech led LBU’s attack on two goals as seven team-mates were also on target.
Skilful midfielder Bailey Cain kicked a match-high three goals for North Bendigo.
Best for the Cats were Cooper Mitchell, ruckman Tyler Phillips, Marcus Angove, Stuart Taylor, Jack O’Callaghan and Jacob Gardiner.
Bailey Cain, Cody Riddick, Aarryn Craig, co-coach Ryan Hartley, Liam Dillon and Matt Gray were best for a North Bendigo team which has Rob Bennett as non-playing co-coach.
After just two wins last season, White Hills beat Huntly in the Demons’ den in Scott Street by two goals.
White Hills raced to a 27-14 lead at quarter-time and was up 47-27 by the main break.
The Hawks were within eight points going into the last after they scored 2.2 and kept the Demons to just two behinds in the third quarter.
An Abe Sladden goal put the Hawks within a goal late in the match, but it was newly-appointed coach Jake Thompson who slotted the match-sealing goal as the Demons marked a 60-48 victory.
The Demons’ attack was led by Josh Harris with two goals.
Lachy Wilson kicked two goals for the Hawks.
Jake Thompson, Nicholas O’Brien and Khy Sawyer were best for a Demons team coached by Brad McConnell and Lachie Sawyer.
Key defender Ben Irvine played a brilliant match to keep Huntly gun Sam Dunstan scoreless as Tom Conlan and Lachlan Martin also played well for the red and black.
Nathan Dunstan, Will Lee, Harrison Campbell, Steve Kairn, Dale Lowry and Kyle Forster were best for the Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks.
Mount Pleasant was under the pump in the final quarter of Saturday afternoon’s clash with Leitchville Gunbower at Gunbower.
The Blues led 52-27 at half-time.
Leitchville Gunbower hit back to win the third, 25-20.
Momentum was with the Bombers in the last as they scored two goals to be within a goal of the reigning premier.
Although it added just a behind in the final term, Mount Pleasant fought on for a 73-68 victory.
The classy Ben Weightman kicked a match-high four goals for Mounts as Alex Wharton booted two in his first match after crossing from Sandhurst to the Blues.
Leitchville Gunbower’s attack was led by Ryan Allan on three goals as Blake Dye booted two.
Best for Mounts were rover Jack Hickman, Alex Wharton, Xavier Carter, Deklan Wille, Adam Triplett and Ben Weightman.
The Blues are again being coached by Josh Hann, playing, and Cam Carter, non-playing.
Gun recruit Luke Davis, Josh Koster, Nic Cattapan, Bryce Barnstable, Ryan Allan and Jye Keath were best for the Joel Donehue-coached Bombers.
Colbinabbin was given a scare on Elmore’s turf.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin led 50-19 at half-time.
Elmore hit back to win the third, 13-9.
Belief in the Luke Freeman-coached Elmore team kept growing as the Bloods scored three goals in the last.
It was a great effort by Elmore to win the second half, 34-18, but it was the Grasshoppers who took the points in a 68-53 result.
Brandyn Grenfell kicked a match-high five goals for Colbinabbin as Will Lowe booted two.
Elmore’s attack was led by James Harney on three.
Best for the Grasshoppers were Jude Ryan, Aidan Basile, Toby Howlett, Nathan Basile, Tanner Nally and Laine Fitzgerald.
Lachie Munro, Peter Rothacker, Matt O’Dwyer, Jake Dick-O’Flaherty, Jarrad Kyne and Joseph Harney were best for the Bloods.
Heathcote had the bye.
In next Saturday’s second round, Mount Pleasant will unfurl the ’25 premiership flag before it takes on Harlowe Huntly Hawks in Toolleen from 2.20pm.
Leitchville Gunbower will be back at Gunbower to play Heathcote.
North Bendigo tackles Colbinabbin in the Bulldogs’ kennel at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street.
It’s another night match at Scott Street in White Hills as the Demons face Lockington Bamawm United from 5.50pm.
Elmore has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
Colbinabbin 128 per cent, 4 points; White Hills 125, 4; Mount Pleasant 107, 4; Lockington Bamawm United 106, 4; North Bendigo 93.7, 0; Leitchville-Gunbower 93.1, 0; Huntly 80, 0; Elmore 77, 0; Heathcote 0, 0.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
5 Brandyn Grenfell, C.
4 Ben Weightman, MP.
3 Ryan Allan, LG; Bailey Cain, NB; James Harney, Elm.
2 Blake Dye, LG; Josh Harris, WH; Thomas Leech, LBU; Will Lowe, C; Alex Wharton, MP; Lachy Wilson, H.
Meanwhile in the Netball………….NORTH Bendigo made a winning start to its A-grade netball campaign in Saturday night’s Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine-backed Heathcote DFNL round one clash.
The Bulldogs made their way to the Cats court at Nichol Trading Oval in Lockington.
A closely-fought contest went the way of the Kiralee Kinder-coached North Bendigo, 51-41.
The LBU line-up is being coached by Stacy Bacon.
At White Hills the Demons fired up for a 47-37 victory against the Harlowe Huntly Hawks in Scott Street.
Was a strong start by the Elley Lawton-coached Demons.
The Hawks are again being coached by Kym Bell and Ash Sherlock.
Reigning premier, Colbinabbin and last season’s runner-up, Mount Pleasant scored impressive wins.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin headed to Elmore’s Recreation Reserve.
Slick passing, strong defence and accurate goaling were all to the fore as the Grasshoppers won 71-35.
Elmore is being coached by Adam Boldiston whose long time in the game includes being a premiership-winning coach with Maiden Gully YCW Eagles in the Loddon Valley.
Mount Pleasant surged past the 80-goal mark in an 83-24 win against Leitchville Gunbower in Gunbower.
The Blues are being coached by Anthea McCleary.
Was a tough start for the Katie Pollock-coached LG Bombers against a team that’s likely to be a strong contender for the premiership.
Heathcote had the bye.
The Brooke Price-coached Saints make their way to Gunbower this Saturday to play Leitchville Gunbower.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Mount Pleasant 4, Colbinabbin 4, White Hills 4, North Bendigo 4, Lockington Bamawm United 0, Huntly 0, Elmore 0, Leitchville Gunbower 0, Heathcote 0.
In next Saturday’s second round, Mount Pleasant takes on Huntly from 2.30pm in Toolleen.
North Bendigo faces a huge test against Colbinabbin at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street from 2.30pm.
Leitchville Gunbower hosts Heathcote in Gunbower for a 2.30pm start.
It’s another night game at Scott Street in White Hills as the Demons play Lockington Bamawm United from 5.30pm.
Elmore has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL netball, round one scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Elmore 31 lt Colbinabbin 44, Leitchville Gunbower 19 lt Mount Pleasant 79, Lockington Bamawm United 30 lt North Bendigo 64, White Hills 40 d Huntly 35, Heathcote bye.
B-grade:
Elmore d Colbinabbin (forfeit), Leitchville Gunbower 40 lt Mount Pleasant 64, Lockington Bamawm United 26 dr North Bendigo 26, White Hills 48 d Huntly 24, Heathcote bye.
B-reserve:
Elmore 72 d Colbinabbin 24, Leitchville Gunbower 18 lt Mount Pleasant 46, Lockington Bamawm United 44 d North Bendigo 32, White Hills 33 lt Huntly 43, Heathcote bye.
17-and-under:
Elmore 26 dr Colbinabbin 26, Leitchville Gunbower 23 lt Mount Pleasant 39, Lockington Bamawm United 35 d North Bendigo 24, White Hills 52 d Huntly 31, Heathcote bye.
15-and-under:
Elmore 26 lt Colbinabbin 35, Leitchville Gunbower 22 lt Mount Pleasant 32, Lockington Bamawm United 55 d North Bendigo 12, White Hills 52 d Huntly 12, Heathcote bye.
13-and-under:
Elmore 27 lt Colbinabbin 29, Leitchville Gunbower 20 d Mount Pleasant 15, Lockington Bamawm United 33 d North Bendigo 14, White Hills 11 lt Huntly 21,
Heathcote bye.
Heathcote DFNL netball ladders after round one:
A-reserve:
Mount Pleasant 4, North Bendigo 4, Colbinabbin 4, White Hills 4, Huntly 0, Elmore 0, Lockington Bamawm United 0, Leitchville Gunbower 0, Heathcote 0.
B-grade:
White Hills 4, Mount Pleasant 4, Elmore 4, Lockington Bamawm United 2, North Bendigo 2, Leitchville Gunbower 0, Huntly 0, Colbinabbin 0, Heathcote 0.
B-reserve:
Elmore 4, Mount Pleasant 4, Lockington Bamawm United 4, Huntly 4, White Hills 0, North Bendigo 0, Leitchville Gunbower 0, Colbinabbin 0, Heathcote 0.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 4, White Hills 4, Lockington Bamawm United 4, Colbinabbin 2, Elmore 2, North Bendigo 0, Huntly 0, Leitchville Gunbower 0, Heathcote 0.
15-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 4, White Hills 4, Mount Pleasant 4, Colbinabbin 4, Elmore 0, Leitchville Gunbower 0, Huntly 0, North Bendigo 0, Heathcote 0.
13-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 4, Huntly 4, Leitchville Gunbower 4, Colbinabbin 4, Elmore 0, Mount Pleasant 0, White Hills 0, North Bendigo 0, Heathcote 0.