Last chance for Square to claim on-court victory
GOLDEN Square has its final chance to claim victory in A-grade netball when it plays at Strathfieldsaye in Saturday’s 18th round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League season.
It’s a big task for Square as it will play on Strathfieldsaye’s court at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
When these clubs last met in round nine it was Storm which surged to a 56-28 victory at Golden Square.
Both teams will be keen to bounce back from big defeats the previous round.
The blue and gold was on the end of a 41-goal loss at home to the in-form Gisborne, while Storm faced a Kangaroo Flat onslaught and was beaten by 34 goals on the Roos’ court at Dower Park.
Another big match to complete the home and away series will be at Queen Elizabeth Oval where South Bendigo and Kangaroo Flat meet on the finals venue.
In round nine the Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroo Flat dominated play at home to score a 74-44 victory.
The Jannelle Hobbs-coached South Bendigo will be determined to show it had learnt plenty from the previous showdown and to play well ahead of an elimination final showdown with Castlemaine.
In last Saturday’s play, South Bendigo lifted against a spirited Maryborough to win by 12 goals at Princes Park.
Two other teams through to A-grade finals, Castlemaine and Sandhurst clash at Camp Reserve.
In round nine it was Sandhurst which scored a 62-46 win against the Magpies at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Both go into this match in fine form.
After a 19-goal loss at Kangaroo Flat in round 15, Castlemaine has hit back to beat Golden Square by 47 goals, and Eaglehawk by 17 goals.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst is in pursuit of a rare fourth consecutive A-grade premiership.
A win clear of Kangaroo Flat at the top of the ladder, Sandhurst will stay there by winning on Castlemaine’s court and earn a week’s rest for the start of the finals series.
Eaglehawk makes the trek down the Calder to play at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
It’s a huge challenge for a Hawks’ line-up on the rebound from a loss at home to Castlemaine and beaten by 30 goals in its round nine clash with Gisborne.
Since a 16-goal loss to Sandhurst in round 16, Gisborne has a win-loss tally of 5-1.
High in that run by the Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne was the five-goal victory against Kangaroo Flat at Gardiner Reserve in the 16th round.
The team in red, white and blue is likely to have too much firepower in attack and skill in mid-court for the Hawks to halt across four quarters.
Kyneton and Maryborough will complete their seasons in Tigerland at Kyneton Showgrounds.
Their clash in round nine ended in a 49-46 win for the Tigers on Maryborough’s court.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Sandhurst 186 per cent, 64 points; Kangaroo Flat 195, 60; Gisborne 143, 52; South Bendigo 115, 46; Castlemaine 117, 44; Kyneton 81, 26; Maryborough 80, 20; Eaglehawk 69, 16; Strathfieldsaye 63, 12; Golden Square 45, 0.
Written by Nathan Dole.
