SANDHURST made a brilliant fightback to beat Gisborne in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy clash on the King’s Birthday holiday weekend.
The Dragons faced a 25-point deficit and the prospect of a hat-trick of defeats at half-time of Saturday’s match at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
Some positional moves and a change in the way it played reaped rewards as Sandhurst won the third quarter, 25-16.
As a Dragons’ team coached by Bryce Curnow, non-playing, and Fergus Greene, playing, fired up to score five goals in the last quarter the Bulldogs replied with five behinds.
By the final siren Sandhurst led 86-75 and ended Gisborne’s remarkable winning streak at home.
Injuries meant the Dragons fielded one of their most inexperienced teams in several seasons.
The club’s youngsters were outstanding, especially in the final hour.
Talented forward Oscar Cail who is playing for Bendigo Pioneers in Talent League capped his senior debut for the Dragons with three goals.
Matt Wilkinson and Noah Willits slotted two majors for the maroon and blue.
Gisborne’s attack was led by Campbell Johns and Dominic Sullivan on two.
The Sandhurst defence worked incredibly hard to keep Pat McKenna goalless.
Best for the Dragons were Lachie Hood, Lachlan Wright, Cooper Smith, Jack Keating, Matt Wilkinson and Lachlan Watson.
Gisborne’s best were captain Zach Vescovi, Brad Bernacki, James Gray, Will Elliott, Dominic Sullivan and Lachlan Evans.
The winning streak for Strathfieldsaye rolled on as Storm beat Golden Square by 39 points at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
It was a tough afternoon for Golden Square as injuries to co-captain Jayden Burke, Archie Edwards and Daniel Keating had a major impact.
Storm raced to a 27-8 lead by quarter-time and was up 48-27 by the main break.
After scoring consecutive goals for the first time in the match, Golden Square was within 16 points less than five minutes into the third quarter.
The Jeff Andrews-coached Strathfieldsaye steadied with goals by Tyson McKenzie, Pat Blake and Tyce Griffin to lead 74-42 going into the final term.
Goals by McKenzie, James Schischka and then McKenzie put the result beyond doubt less than 10 minutes into the last.
Golden Square fought back with a hat-trick of goals before Storm added another to complete a 99-60 victory.
Blake and McKenzie led Storm’s attack on four goals each as Schischka kicked two.
Eight players kicked a goal for Golden Square.
Best for Strathfieldsaye were Tyson McKenzie, Pat Blake, Cooper Jones, Riley Mulquiny, Tyce Griffin and Darcy Mulquiny.
The Warfe brothers, Bailey and Noah teamed up in a senior match for the first time and were Golden Square’s best.
The Bulldogs also had Macey Eaton win plenty of the footy and welcomed back Riley Dillon who is playing VFL with Greater Western Sydney for a special appearance.
Isaac Corvo and Jordan Rosengren also played well for a Golden Square team coached by Brad Eaton, non-playing, and Liam Barrett, playing.
A 15-goal haul by Michael Hartley highlighted Castlemaine’s big win against Broadford.
After playing as a key defender in recent matches, Hartley swung back to attack with telling effect against the Kangaroos at The Railway Hotel in Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
The Bailey Henderson-coached Magpies charged to a 59-2 lead by quarter-time.
Broadford’s best quarter of the season was to be the second.
A run of 13 unanswered goals by Castlemaine was broken when Jarrah Younger slotted Broadford’s first major.
Taiten Thomas kicked the last goal of the half as the Magpies led 102-16 by the long break.
Castlemaine’s intensity at the contest did not ease up as it scored nine goals in the third and 10 in the final term on the way to a 224-17 victory.
Hartley’s marking strength and goalkicking was superb as he slotted 15 goals in a best-on-ground performance.
Magpies’ team-mates Harrison Sheahan and Hunter Staples slotted three each.
In his 200th senior match, John Watson kicked two goals as Kalan Huntly and Archie Rixon added two.
Castlemaine’s best were Michael Hartley, Hunter Staples, Harrison Sheahan, Darby Semmens, Zavier Murley and John Watson.
Jay Eager, Taiten Thomas, Adam Miles, Louis Thompson, Jacob Street-Glasson and Harry Behan were best for the Nathan Thompson-coached Broadford.
Kangaroo Flat took it right up to the ladder-leading South Bendigo at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
The Roos pounced on early opportunities to lead 20-7 before the Bloods replied with back-to-back goals.
Another goal for the Roos sparked a strong response as South Bendigo scored the last three goals of the opening quarter to be up 39-28 at the break.
A South Bendigo team coached by Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing, took control to win quarters two and three, 31-14 and 27-13.
A hat-trick of goals by the Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroos cut the margin to 23 points as the clocked neared the 10-minute mark in the final term.
South Bendigo responded with two of the last three goals of the contest to claim a 113-81 victory.
The Bloods’ attack was led by Brock Harvey on six goals as Jack Fallon who is usually racing off half-back showed his skill in the forward line with four goals.
Other multiple goalkickers were Coen Harker and co-captain Josh Nitschke on two each.
Leading goalkicker for the Kangaroos was club legend Nick Lang on three as Sam Barnes and Nick Keogh kicked two each.
Now playing for Richmond in the VFL, athletic ruckman Zaydn Lockwood marked his first game for the Bloods this season to be among the best.
On-ballers Coen Harker and Brody Haddow continued their hot form to lead South Bendigo’s charge along with Lockwood, Hayden Geddes, key defender Will Allen and Jack Fallon.
Kangaroo Flat’s best were Aaron Nevins, ruckman Angus Macpherson, Jake Hywood, Zach Bird, Kyle Symons and Mitch Collins.
Eaglehawk had the bye.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
South Bendigo 167 per cent, 28 points; Strathfieldsaye 166, 24; Gisborne 179, 20; Sandhurst 163, 20; Castlemaine 135, 12; Eaglehawk 103, 12; Golden Square 101, 8; Kangaroo Flat 60, 4; Broadford 11, 0.
In next Saturday’s round 10 action it will be Sandhurst marking its return to Queen Elizabeth Oval when it plays Castlemaine from 2.20pm.
Broadford takes on Eaglehawk on the Kangaroos’ ground at Harley Hammond Reserve.
It’s the battle of the Bulldogs as Golden Square faces Gisborne at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.
Kangaroo Flat meets Strathfieldsaye on the Kangaroos’ ground at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Dower Park.
South Bendigo has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
28 Pat McKenna, Gis.
26 Michael Hartley, Cm; James Schischka, S’saye.
25 Brock Harvey, SB.
17 Nick Keogh, KF.
16 Tyson McKenzie, S’saye.
15 Pat Blake, S’saye; Fergus Greene, Sh.
14 Brody Haddow, SB.
13 Zac Denahy, Gis.; Cobi Maxted, Sh; Harrison Sheahan, Cm; Ben Thompson, Eh.
12 Archie Eaton, GS; James Frawley, SB; Alex Smith, SB.
11 Kaiden Antonowicz, SB; Coen Harker, SB; Jordan Rosengren, GS; Archie Rixon, Cm.
10 Bailey Henderson, Cm; Harry Luxmoore, Gis.; Tom Strauch, GS.
In the netball………SANDHURST scored a hard-fought victory on Gisborne’s court in Saturday’s eighth round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
The Dragons marked a successful trek to Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve for another showdown with a fierce rival.
A Sandhurst line-up coached by Tamara Gilchrist scored a 44-40 victory and in the process moved to the second rung on the ladder.
Defeat broke a five-match winning streak for the Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne.
The team in red, white and blue holds third place in the premiership race.
Castlemaine celebrated its first victory of the season.
It was to be the Magpies or Broadford’s Kangaroos who would claim their first points of the season when they clashed at The Railway Hotel Oval in Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
The Vanessa Saunders-coached Castlemaine soared to a 57-43 victory.
Although disappointed with the final margin there were many positives in the play of the Jaimie Hooper-coached Broadford line-up.
Reigning premier Kangaroo Flat returned to the court after a lengthy break.
The Roos had not played since May 16 when they scored a 38-goal win on their court at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Dower Park against Golden Square.
Sibling rivalry played out again as Roos’ coach Jayden Cowling was up against older sister Lauren Bowles who is coaching South Bendigo.
The Roos dominated play on the Bloods’ court at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington to record an 81-48 victory.
Strathfieldsaye strengthened its position in the top five as it defeated Golden Square by eight goals.
The Jess Mangan-coached Strathfieldsaye was on its court at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane in a tough test against the team in blue and gold.
Storm surged to a 55-47 win against the Teigan Redwood-coached Golden Square.
Eaglehawk had the bye.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Kangaroo Flat 210 per cent, 28 points; Sandhurst 155, 24; Gisborne 180, 20; South Bendigo 121, 20; Strathfieldsaye 112, 16; Eaglehawk 90.9, 8; Golden Square 89, Castlemaine 45, 4; Broadford 32, 0.
The league reaches the halfway mark of the home-and-away series when round nine is played next Saturday.
Broadford’s back on its court at Harley Hammond Reserve to play Eaglehawk from 2pm.
Sandhurst and Castlemaine clash at Queen Elizabeth Oval from 2.30pm.
Kangaroo Flat faces Strathfieldsaye on the Kangaroos’ court at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Dower Park from 2.30pm.
It’s a later start of 3.20pm for Golden Square and Gisborne as they take to the court at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street.
Bendigo FNL netball, round eight scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Gisborne 42 lt Sandhurst 46, South Bendigo 40 lt Kangaroo Flat 60, Strathfieldsaye 47 d Golden Square 40, Castlemaine bye, Eaglehawk bye.
B-grade:
Gisborne 65 d Sandhurst 42, South Bendigo 49 d Kangaroo Flat 33, Castlemaine 43 lt Broadford 62, Strathfieldsaye 54 d Golden Square 38, Eaglehawk bye.
B-reserve:
Gisborne 58 d Sandhurst 30, South Bendigo 37 lt Kangaroo Flat 41, Castlemaine 44 d Broadford 24, Strathfieldsaye 42 d Golden Square 29, Eaglehawk bye.
17-and-under:
Gisborne 33 d Sandhurst 24, South Bendigo 49 lt Kangaroo Flat 54, Castlemaine 56 d Broadford 35, Strathfieldsaye 54 d Golden Square 45, Eaglehawk bye.
15-and-under:
South Bendigo 42 d Kangaroo Flat 33, Strathfieldsaye 26 lt Golden Square 43, Sandhurst bye, Castlemaine bye, Eaglehawk bye.
Bendigo FNL netball ladders after eight rounds:
A-reserve:
South Bendigo 131, 24; Kangaroo Flat 157, 20; Gisborne 132, 16; Sandhurst 112, 16; Eaglehawk 90, 12; Strathfieldsaye 73, 8; Golden Square 67, 4; Castlemaine 65, 0.
B-grade:
Gisborne 195 per cent, 28 points; South Bendigo 158, 28; Kangaroo Flat 152, 20; Strathfieldsaye 118, 20; Sandhurst 109, 12; Golden Square 103, 12; Eaglehawk 81, 4; Castlemaine 44, 4; Broadford 41, 0.
B-reserve:
Kangaroo Flat 182 per cent, 28 points; Gisborne 203, 24; South Bendigo 159, 24; Strathfieldsaye 126, 16; Sandhurst 112, 16; Golden Square 93, 8; Eaglehawk 84, 8; Castlemaine 47, 4; Broadford 24, 0.
17-and-under:
Strathfieldsaye 212 per cent, 24 points; Golden Square 188, 24; Sandhurst 164, 20; Gisborne 143, 18; Eaglehawk 87, 14; Kangaroo Flat 107, 12; South Bendigo 87, 12; Castlemaine 46, 4; Broadford 24, 0.
15-and-under:
Sandhurst 337 per cent, 20 points; Golden Square 185, 20; South Bendigo 92, 16; Eaglehawk 90, 12; Strathfieldsaye 73, 4; Kangaroo Flat 51, 4; Castlemaine 50, 0.