ANOTHER thrilling contest between Mount Pleasant and North Bendigo was played out in Saturday’s sixth round in Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL senior footy.
It was a rematch of the ’25 grand finalists on Mount Pleasant’s turf in Toolleen.
Despite its inaccuracy, North Bendigo played well to 24-14 at quarter-time.
In the second it was the Blues who struck back to score 4.1 as the Bulldogs added 2.6.
By the long break North Bendigo was up 42-39.
Mount Pleasant gained a four-point buffer going into the last quarter as it won the third term, 29-22.
Momentum swung dramatically in the final quarter.
The Bulldogs gained the early ascendancy and slotted a hat-trick of goals to lead by 13 points.
Mounts fought back with majors by Ben Weightman and Bryce Hinneberg.
A points for the Blues made it 82-all.
A point for the Bulldogs was followed by Jake Dean’s fourth goal as the red, white and blue was up 89-82.
Mounts’ co-captain Caelan Smith added another point, which was followed by Storm Giri’s shot for the Bulldogs punched through on the goal line.
The hard-running Brodie Montague was on target on the run for the Blues to cut the margin to a point.
Final shot of the match was by Brodie Leonard-Shannon for Mounts which was again a rushed behind to make it 90-all seconds before the siren went.
Mount Pleasant’s attack was led by the brilliance of Ben Weightman on five goals as Jack Hickman kicked two.
Jake Dean led the Bulldogs’ attack on four goals as Jordan Hargreaves and Cody Riddick kicked two.
Best for Mount Pleasant were key defender William Wallace, Jack Hickman, co-coach Josh Hann, Deklan Wille, Hugo Gibson and Mitch Bennett.
The unbeaten Blues have Cameron Carter as co-coach.
North Bendigo’s best were Jordan Ford, co-coach Ryan Hartley, Dylan Klemm, Hamish McCartney, Cody Riddick and Jesse Clark.
Both clubs honour Russell Roulston who was a gun forward for the Bulldogs in the 70s and then later with the Blues.
The Russell Roulston Medal for best on ground was awarded to Ryan Hartley who has teamed up with Rob Bennett, non-playing, to co-coach North Bendigo.
It was the Hawks against the Cats as the Harlowe Huntly Hawks took on Lockington Bamawm United at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
Chasing a hat-trick of wins it was LBU which led 17-2 at quarter-time.
A closely-fought second term went the way of the Cats, 26-20.
Both teams scored 3.3 in the third quarter.
Led by the play of Charlie Hinks in defence, Patrick Keele and Bowden Stone it was LBU which kicked on for a 78-55 victory.
Brayden Hull led the Cats’ attack on three goals as Jack Jansen and Nick Smart kicked two each.
For Huntly it was Sam Dunstan who finished with a match-high five goals as Abe Sladden slotted two.
Best for the Jayden Howe-coached LBU included Brayden Hull, Jack O’Callaghan and on-baller Marcus Angove.
Sam Dunstan, Todd Stevenson, Abe Sladden, key defender Will Lee, Dale Lowry and Steve Kairn were best for the Hamish Morcom-coached Hawks.
Heathcote surged clear in the final quarter to complete a 29-point win on its turf at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve against Elmore.
The Luke Freeman-coached Elmore made a strong start to lead 21-13 by quarter-time.
In the second it was the Saints who scored 4.3 as the Bloods added 2.2.
A five-point buffer for Heathcote at half-time was seven going into the last quarter.
Heathcote slammed on 6.6 and kept the Bloods to a tally of 3.2 in the final term.
Key forwards Dylan Johnstone and Sean Williams slotted six and four goals in a 101-72 victory for the Saints as Rhys Bolton booted two goals.
Elmore’s attack was led by James Harney on five.
Best afield was Heathcote co-coach Liam Jacques who spent the majority of the game across half-back.
The Saints also had Dylan Johnstone, Sean Williams, Rhys Bolton, Codie Price and Jonty Kelly play well in the club’s third win of the season.
Elmore’s best were Lachie Munro, Rhys Holmberg, Matt Filo, Charlie O’Toole, Matt Gilmour and Xavier Coghill.
Colbinabbin scored a 45-point win on Leitchville Gunbower’s turf in Gunbower.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Colbinabbin raced to a 29-7 lead by quarter-time.
A high-scoring second term went the Grasshoppers way, 31-20.
Leitchville Gunbower worked hard, but Colbinabbin was always in control on the way to a 103-58 result.
Jimmy McMurtrie led the Grasshoppers’ attack on five goals as Nathan Basile booted three and Laine Fitzgerald and Matt Riordan chipped in with two each.
The Bombers’ leading goalkicker was Blake Dye on three as Jack Dye added two.
Best for Colbinabbin were Nathan Basile, Isaac Carracher, Angus Martin, Jimmy McMurtrie, Jude Ryan and Connor Aldous.
Jye Keath, Matt McLellan, Nic Cattapan, Xavier Colvin, Billy Hawken and Josh Koster were best for the Joel Donehue-coached Leitchville Gunbower Bombers.
White Hills had the bye.
Heathcote DFNL senior footy ladder:
Mount Pleasant 146 per cent, 22 points; Colbinabbin 119, 16; Lockington Bamawm United 104, 16; Heathcote 105, 12; North Bendigo 140, 10; Leitchville Gunbower 80, 8; White Hills 68, 8; Elmore 71, 4; Huntly 76, 0.
In next Saturday’s seventh round, North Bendigo’s on home turf at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street to play the in-form Heathcote from 2.20pm.
White Hills takes on the ladder-leading Mount Pleasant in the Demons’ den in Scott Street.
Elmore is at home against Leitchville Gunbower.
Colbinabbin tackles Huntly on the Grasshoppers’ ground at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval.
Lockington Bamawm United has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
19 Dylan Johnstone, H’cote.
18 Brandyn Grenfell, C.
17 Ben Weightman, MP.
15 Sam Dunstan, Huntly; Tyler Phillips, LBU.
14 Dylan Klemm, NB.
13 Jake Thompson, WH.
11 Ryan Allan, LG; Jake Dean, NB; Sean Williams, H’cote.
10 James Harney, E.
9 Laine Fitzgerald, C; Lachie Gawell, E; Bryce Hinneberg, MP; Brayden Hull, LBU.
8 Tom Conlan, WH; Blake Dye, LG; Jimmy McMurtrie, C.
In the netball action……….ELMORE’S winless run in the Agnico Eagle Fosterville Gold Mine Heathcote DFNL’s A-grade netball competition was broken in Saturday’s sixth round.
The Adam Boldiston-coached Elmore won a great clash on Heathcote’s court at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve by two goals.
The 47-45 victory was Boldiston’s first with the Bloods.
A Heathcote line-up coached by Brooke Price was aiming to mark its second victory of the season, but it was Elmore which took the points.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks won their showdown with Lockington Bamawm United at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
A 61-51 victory put the Kym Bell and Ash Sherlock-coached Hawks on the fourth rung.
The Stacy Bacon-coached LBU worked hard to pass the 50-goal mark, but it was brown and gold which held an 11-goal lead at the final siren.
Mount Pleasant was too strong for North Bendigo on the Blues’ court in Toolleen.
The Anthea McCleary-coached Mounts won by 31 goals.
As the Blues poured in 57 goals the defensive aspect of their play was a highlight as they kept the Kiralee Kinder-coached North Bendigo to a tally of 26 goals.
Leitchville Gunbower faced a daunting task against reigning premier Colbinabbin in Gunbower.
The Katie Pollock-coached LG Bombers did well to score 31 goals, but it was the Grasshoppers’ slick passing and attacking brilliance which was to the fore.
By the final siren the Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin had scored 93 goals.
White Hills had the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Colbinabbin 207 per cent, 24 points; Mount Pleasant 195, 20; White Hills 124, 16; Huntly 95, 10; North Bendigo 76, 8; Leitchville Gunbower 62, 6; Lockington Bamawm United 76, 4; Heathcote 66, 4; Elmore 56, 4.
In next Saturday’s seventh round, White Hills will be on its Scott Street court to play the second-placed Mount Pleasant from 2.30pm.
North Bendigo takes on Heathcote at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street.
Elmore hosts Leitchville Gunbower at Elmore Recreation Reserve.
Colbinabbin and Huntly meet in the clash of the Grasshoppers and Hawks at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval.
Lockington Bamawm United has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL netball, round six scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Heathcote 38 d Elmore 30, Huntly 62 d Lockington Bamawm United 29, Mount Pleasant 65 d North Bendigo 32, Leitchville Gunbower v Colbinabbin, White Hills bye.
B-grade:
Heathcote 50 d Elmore 41, Huntly 49 d Lockington Bamawm United 18, Mount Pleasant 52 d North Bendigo 32, Leitchville Gunbower 42 d Colbinabbin 36, White Hills bye.
B-reserve:
Heathcote 51 d Elmore 35, Huntly 42 d Lockington Bamawm United 38, Mount Pleasant 37 d North Bendigo 31, Leitchville Gunbower 21 lt Colbinabbin 32, White Hills bye.
17-and-under:
Heathcote 44 lt Elmore 45, Huntly 27 lt Lockington Bamawm United 58, Mount Pleasant 58 d North Bendigo 31, Leitchville Gunbower 37 d Colbinabbin 21, White Hills bye.
15-and-under:
Heathcote 30 d Elmore 29, Huntly 17 lt Lockington Bamawm United 39, Mount Pleasant 41 d North Bendigo 15, Leitchville Gunbower 37 d Colbinabbin 33, White Hills bye.
13-and-under:
Heathcote 5 lt Elmore 23, Huntly 13 lt Lockington Bamawm United 32, Mount Pleasant 22 d North Bendigo 20, Leitchville Gunbower 30 d Colbinabbin 22, White Hills bye.
Heathcote DFNL netball ladders after six rounds:
A-reserve:
Colbinabbin 143 per cent, 24 points; Mount Pleasant 196, 20; Huntly 138, 12; North Bendigo 120, 12; White Hills 119, 12; Leitchville Gunbower 69, 8; Heathcote 64, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 56, 0; Elmore 53, 0.
B-grade:
Mount Pleasant 165 per cent, 24 points; White Hills 194, 20; Leitchville Gunbower 111, 16; Heathcote 102, 12; Huntly 101, 8; Elmore 70, 8; Colbinabbin 82, 4; North Bendigo 75, 2; Lockington Bamawm United 52, 2.
B-reserve:
Huntly 163 per cent, 20 points; Lockington Bamawm United 151, 20; Mount Pleasant 109, 16; White Hills 128, 12; Heathcote 122, 12; North Bendigo 122, 8; Elmore 85, 4; Colbinabbin 47, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 34, 0.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 166 per cent, 24 points; White Hills 202, 20; Lockington Bamawm United 145, 16; Leitchville Gunbower 96, 12; Elmore 85, 10; Colbinabbin 65, 6; Huntly 81, Heathcote 66, 4; North Bendigo 49, 0.
15-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 207 per cent, 24 points; White Hills 204, 16; Mount Pleasant 112, 16; Heathcote 108, 12; Colbinabbin 91, 8; Elmore 81, 8; Leitchville Gunbower 80, 8; Huntly 57, 4; North Bendigo 38, 0.
13-and-under:
Leitchville Gunbower 282 per cent, 20 points; Lockington Bamawm United 233, 20; Colbinabbin 139, 16; Mount Pleasant 131, 16; Elmore 114, 12; Huntly 58, 8; North Bendigo 62, 4; White Hills 50, 0; Heathcote 12, 0.