SANDHURST marked a 31-point win against Castlemaine as they met in Saturday’s ninth round of Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL senior footy at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Dragons raced to a 25-9 lead by quarter-time and were up, 50-24 by the long break.
A closely-fought third quarter went the way of the Dragons, 26-18.
Accuracy was a key factor in term three as Sandhurst scored 4.2 as the Magpies rued a tally of 2.6.
The Bailey Henderson-coached Castlemaine worked hard to win the final quarter, 15-12, but it was Sandhurst which celebrated an 88-57 victory.
Oliver Stewart led the Dragons’ attack on three goals as Gus Hay and Oliver Morris added two each.
The Magpies had seven goalkickers in a score of 7.15.
Best for Sandhurst were Oliver Stewart, Wil Pinniger, Fergus Greene, Oliver Morris, Matt Wilkinson and Cobi Maxted.
A Dragons’ team coached by Bryce Curnow, non-playing, and Fergus Greene, playing, is third in the premiership race on a six-two record.
Castlemaine’s best were on-baller Dylan Landt, Jack Sutherland, Harrison Sheahan, Jaise Coleman, Rhys Jenkins and Michael Hartley.
Seven goals in the first quarter set up Gisborne’s win on Golden Square’s ground at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street.
Stung by a loss to Sandhurst at home the previous round, Gisborne made a flying start in the clash of the league’s two breed of Bulldog.
The Rob Waters-coached Gisborne scored the first six goals of the match as David Baynon and Dominic Sullivan slotted two each and Kobe Zerafa and Pat McKenna added one each.
Golden Square’s sole goal in the first term was off the boot of Isaac Corvo.
A second major by McKenna gave Gisborne a 47-8 lead at the first break.
Golden Square struck back in the early minutes of the second term with goals by Lachlan Humphrey and Tom Strauch.
A Ryan Bourke goal gave Gisborne a 29-point buffer.
The blue and gold answered with goals by Jordan Rosengren and Billy Buhagiar.
Final goal of the half was booted by Baynon as Gisborne led 64-36 at the long break.
Goals by Strauch and Jack McMahon lifted Golden Square’s hopes early in the third term.
Gisborne hit back through McKenna and Brad Bernacki.
McMahon’s second goal cut the deficit to 22 points going into the final term.
When McMahon goaled the blue and gold was within 15 points at 20 minutes to play.
A Bernacki major and then consecutive goals by Sullivan snuffed out Golden Square’s hopes.
Strauch and Jack Stewart capped fine teamwork with goals for Golden Square, but it was Gisborne which was up 97-75 at the final siren.
The Gisborne attack was led by Dominic Sullivan on four goals as David Baynon and Pat McKenna kicked three each and Brad Bernacki booted two.
Leading goalkickers for Golden Square were Jack McMahon and Tom Strauch on three each.
Best for Gisborne were ???
???? played well for a Golden Square team coached by Brad Eaton, non-playing, and Liam Barrett, playing.
Strathfieldsaye grabbed top spot on the ladder after a 76-point victory on Kangaroo Flat’s ground at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Dower Park.
Storm won the first term, 35-9, but the Kangaroos bounced back to win the second, 15-7.
An eight-goal blitz by Strathfieldsaye as it kept the Roos to just two behinds in the third term put the result beyond doubt.
The Jeff Andrews-coached Storm had surged to a 68-point lead going into the final term.
By the final siren Strathfieldsaye led 110-34.
Key forward James Schischka capped a great match with four goals for Strathfieldsaye as the classy Tyson McKenzie kicked three and Tyce Griffin added two.
Leading goalkicker for the Kangaroos was Mitch Collins on two.
Strathfieldsaye’s best were Ethan Featherby, Daniel Clohesy, Riley Mulquiny, Tyson McKenzie, Tim Hosking and Tyce Griffin.
Jake Hywood, Mitch Collins, Aaron Nevins, Isaac Lowndes, Zach Bird and Max Johnson played well for the Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroo Flat.
Reigning premier, Eaglehawk regained its place in the five after a 218-point win on Broadford’s ground at Harley Hammond Reserve.
The Hawks racked up a score of 32.32 (224) as Broadford booted two goals.
Eaglehawk slammed on eight goals in the first term, five in the second, and eight in the third.
Intensity at the contest and run by the Two Blues did not ease up as they scored 11 goals in the last to complete a 224-16 victory.
The Borough’s attack was led by Jack O’Shannessy and Ben Thompson with five goals apiece.
Deacon Marsh kicked four as Jack Donat, Joel Mullen and Oscar White booted three each and Lewin Davis and Jack Thompson added two.
On-baller Ben Thompson earned best afield honours as ruckman Callum Heath, Nick Hoare, wingman Oscar White, Tyh Evans and the hard-working Joel Mullen were among best for the Travis Matheson and Clayton Holmes-coached Hawks.
In a career spanning 319 matches for the club, Sam Thompson who is a reliable back pocket or half-back also went into attack to slot a goal.
Was a tough afternoon for Broadford in which Louis Thompson, captain Adam Miles, Riley Edwards, Jacob Street-Glasson, Charles Neilson and Oliver Lubeck were best.
Bendigo FNL senior footy ladder:
Strathfieldsaye 176 per cent, 28 points; South Bendigo 167, 28; Gisborne 173, 24; Sandhurst 162, 24; Eaglehawk 138, 16; Castlemaine 125, 12; Golden Square 97, 8; Kangaroo Flat 57, 4; Broadford 10, 0.
Next Saturday’s round 10 will be highlighted by a showdown of the ladder leaders, and rematch of last season’s grand finalists.
It’s first against second as Strathfieldsaye plays on South Bendigo’s turf at Harry Trott Oval in Neale Street, Kennington from 2.20pm.
Sandhurst takes on Eaglehawk in the rematch of the ’25 grand finalists at nearby Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Golden Square’s back on home turf at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street to play Castlemaine.
It’s the Kangaroos against the Bulldogs as Kangaroo Flat meets Gisborne at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park.
Broadford has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race for the Ron Best Medal:
31 Pat McKenna, Gis.
30 James Schischka, S’saye.
27 Michael Hartley, Cm.
25 Brock Harvey, SB.
19 Tyson McKenzie, S’saye.
18 Ben Thompson, Eh.
17 Nick Keogh, KF.
16 Pat Blake, S’saye; Fergus Greene, Sh.
14 Brody Haddow, SB; Cobi Maxted, Sh; Harrison Sheahan, Cm; Dominic Sullivan, Gis.
13 Zac Denahy, Gis.; Alex Smith, SB; Tom Strauch, GS.
12 Archie Eaton, GS; James Frawley, SB; Archie Rixon, Cm; Jordan Rosengren, GS.
In the netball action……….GISBORNE surged to a 22-goal victory on Golden Square’s court in Saturday’s ninth round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne was in control for a lot the contest at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street.
By the final siren Gisborne led 58-36 against the Teigan Redwood-coached Golden Square.
Eaglehawk stayed in touch with the top five after a 60-11 victory on Broadford’s court at Harley Hammond Reserve.
A highlight for the Janelle Hobbs-coached Eaglehawk was the defensive effort to hold the Kangaroos to a tally of 11 goals.
Was another tough hit-out for the Jaimie Hooper-coached Broadford which has the bye next Saturday.
Top teams Kangaroo Flat and Sandhurst were in top form.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroo Flat scored a 71-40 victory against Strathfieldsaye at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park.
A Storm line-up coached by Jess Mangan is now just four points clear of Eaglehawk in the fight to claim fifth place and qualify for finals.
Sandhurst also passed the 70-goal mark as it took on Castlemaine at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst charged to a 70-37 win against the Magpies.
A Castlemaine team coached by Vanessa Saunders had won its previous match against Broadford by 14 goals at Camp Reserve.
South Bendigo had the bye.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Kangaroo Flat 205 per cent, 32 points; Sandhurst 159, 28; Gisborne 177, 24; South Bendigo 121, 20; Strathfieldsaye 101, 16; Eaglehawk 104, 12; Golden Square 86, 8; Castlemaine 46, 4; Broadford 30, 0.
Kangaroo Flat renews its rivalry with Gisborne in next Saturday’s round 10 clash.
The Kangaroos have home-court advantage at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Dower Park as they take on the Bulldogs from 2.30pm.
It’s an early start of 10am for South Bendigo and Strathfieldsaye in the A-grade match at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street.
Sandhurst takes on Eaglehawk from 2.30pm at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
First centre pass in the Golden Square and Castlemaine clash will be at 3.20pm at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.
Broadford has the bye.
Bendigo FNL netball, round nine scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Golden Square 31 lt Gisborne 75, Sandhurst 67 d Castlemaine 41, Kangaroo Flat 60 d Strathfieldsaye 32, Eaglehawk bye, South Bendigo bye.
B-grade:
Golden Square 14 lt Gisborne 73, Broadford 48 d Eaglehawk 36, Sandhurst 48 d Castlemaine 25, Kangaroo Flat 36 lt Strathfieldsaye 47, South Bendigo bye.
B-reserve:
Golden Square 29 lt Gisborne 46, Broadford 31 lt Eaglehawk 60, Sandhurst 59 d Castlemaine 23, Kangaroo Flat 46 d Strathfieldsaye 37, South Bendigo bye.
17-and-under:
Golden Square 62 d Gisborne 38, Broadford 19 lt Eaglehawk 55, Sandhurst 81 d Castlemaine 19, Kangaroo Flat 52 d Strathfieldsaye 44, South Bendigo bye.
15-and-under:
Sandhurst 88 d Castlemaine 9, Kangaroo Flat 27 lt Strathfieldsaye 36, Eaglehawk bye, Golden Square bye, South Bendigo bye.
Bendigo FNL netball ladders:
A-reserve:
Kangaroo Flat 161 per cent, 24 points; South Bendigo 131, 24; Gisborne 144, 20; Sandhurst 120, 20; Eaglehawk 90, 12; Strathfieldsaye 69, 8; Golden Square 62, 4; Castlemaine 64, 0.
B-grade:
Gisborne 195 per cent, 28 points; South Bendigo 158, 28; Strathfieldsaye 120, 24; Kangaroo Flat 139, 20; Sandhurst 115, 16; Golden Square 103, 12; Broadford 51, 8; Eaglehawk 80, 4; Castlemaine 42, 0.
B-reserve:
Kangaroo Flat 174 per cent, 32 points; Gisborne 198, 28; South Bendigo 159, 24; Sandhurst 124, 20; Strathfieldsaye 119, 16; Eaglehawk 95, 12; Golden Square 89, 8; Castlemaine 45, 4; Broadford 27, 0.
17-and-under:
Golden Square 184 per cent, 28 points; Sandhurst 188, 24; Strathfieldsaye 186, 24; Gisborne 126, 18; Eaglehawk 99, 18; Kangaroo Flat 108, 16; South Bendigo 87, 12; Castlemaine 43, 4; Broadford 25, 0.
15-and-under:
Sandhurst 393 per cent, 24 points; Golden Square 185, 20; South Bendigo 92, 16; Eaglehawk 90, 12; Strathfieldsaye 80, 8; Kangaroo Flat 53, 4; Castlemaine 40, 0.