BY NATHAN DOLE
ELMORE won a high-scoring showdown with Colbinabbin in Saturday’s second round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote District Football Netball League.
In the clash of last season’s premiers and preliminary finalist, Elmore was under pressure all match on its court.
The Bloods led 16-13 at quarter-time and 32-30 by half-time.
Excellent workrate by the Jen McIntyre-coached Colbo in the third term matched Elmore’s tally of 14 goals.
In the last the Elmore team which is jointly coached by Gabe Richards and Allira Holmes was able to take control in most thirds of the court to clinch a 61-56 victory.
A strong first half played a big part in North Bendigo’s win against Lockington Bamawm United.
The Shellie Davies-coached North Bendigo was back on its court at Hibo Hotel Oval in Atkins Street because of upgrades at Lockington Reserve.
Led by the play of Darcy Scott at wing attack and Imogen Davies in attack, the red, white and blue made a strong start to be up 14-9 at the first break.
Term two was to be the Bulldogs’ best return of the contest as they added 12 goals and held the Cats to just six to lead 26-15 at half-time.
The Jessie Hardess-coached LBU fought back strongly to win the third, 12-10, but it was North Bendigo which won a closely-fought final term, 10-9.
At the final whistle the Bulldogs celebrated a 46-36 victory.
Mount Pleasant chalked up consecutive wins.
The Carine Comer-coached Blues outpointed Huntly, 47-37 at Toolleen.
Heathcote bounced back from an opening round loss to Colbinabbin to defeat Leitchville-Gunbower, 56-35.
In next Saturday’s third round, Colbinabbin and Mount Pleasant meet on the Grasshoppers’ court at M.J. Morgan Reserve.
The Kym Bell-coached Huntly will be keen to strike back from a 0-2 start when it meets Lockington Bamawm United at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
A tough run for the Gemma Angove-coached Leitchville Gunbower rolls on as the Bombers face Elmore at Leitchville.
After a second-round bye, the Lauren Bowles-coached White Hills is on its court in Scott Street to take on a Heathcote team jointly coached by Brooke Bolton and Kelsey Hayes.
North Bendigo has the bye.
Round two scoreboard:
A-grade:
Mount Pleasant 47 d Huntly 37; North Bendigo 46 d Lockington Bamawm United 36; Heathcote 56 d Leitchville Gunbower 35; Elmore 61 d Colbinabbin 56; White Hills bye.
A-reserve:
Mount Pleasant 34 lt Huntly 39; North Bendigo 45 d Lockington Bamawm United 26; Heathcote 33 d Leitchville Gunbower 32; Elmore 37 d Colbinabbin 28; White Hills bye.
B-grade:
Heathcote 23 lt Leitchville Gunbower 33, Mount Pleasant 31 lt Huntly 34, North Bendigo 50 d Lockington Bamawm United 37, Elmore 41 d Colbinabbin 24, White Hills bye.
B-reserve:
Heathcote 32 d Leitchville Gunbower 22,Mount Pleasant 38 lt Huntly 51, North Bendigo 43 d Lockington Bamawm United 19, Elmore 67 d Colbinabbin 28, White Hills bye.
17-and-under:
Heathcote 41 d Leitchville Gunbower 14, Mount Pleasant 38 lt Huntly 40, North Bendigo 21 lt Lockington Bamawm United 46, Elmore 32 lt Colbinabbin 49, White Hills bye.
15-and-under:
Heathcote 20 lt Leitchville Gunbower 23, Mount Pleasant 38 d Huntly 17, North Bendigo 29 lt Lockington Bamawm United 35, Elmore 60 d Colbinabbin 21, White Hills bye.
13-and-under:
Heathcote 26 d Leitchville Gunbower 21; Mount Pleasant 5 lt Huntly 34, North Bendigo 1 lt Lockington Bamawm United 41, Elmore 16 lt Colbinabbin 21, White Hills bye.
Heathcote DFNL netball ladders after two rounds:
A-grade:
Elmore 150 per cent, 8 points; Mount Pleasant 129, 8; White Hills 419, 4; Colbinabbin 109, 4; Heathcote 106, 4; North Bendigo 100, 4; Lockington Bamawm United 78, 0; Huntly 58, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 38, 0.
A-reserve:
Elmore 157 per cent, 8 points; North Bendigo 145, 8; White Hills 346, 4; Colbinabbin 104, 4; Heathcote 85, 4; Huntly 77, 4; Mount Pleasant 83, 0; Lockington Bamawm United 57, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 55, 0.
B-grade:
North Bendigo 135, 8; Huntly 123, 8; White Hills 213, 4; Colbinabbin 115, 4; Elmore 105, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 77, 4; Mount Pleasant 81, 0; Lockington Bamawm United 74, 0;Heathcote 50, 0.
B-reserve:
Huntly 130, 8; White Hills 180, 4; Elmore 134, 4; North Bendigo 123, 4; Mount Pleasant 96, 4; Colbinabbin 86, 4; Heathcote 72, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 60, 0; Lockington Bamawm United 44, 0.
17-and-under:
Heathcote 202, 8; Huntly 118, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 219, 4; Colbinabbin 100, 4; Mount Pleasant 98, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 73, 4; Elmore 70, 0; North Bendigo 66, 0; White Hills 64, 0.
15-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 362 per cent, 8 points; Elmore 149, 4; White Hills 141, 4; Lockington Bamawm United 120, 4; Heathcote 97, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 90, 4; Huntly 82, 4; Colbinabbin 52, 0; North Bendigo 42, 0.
13-and-under:
Huntly 335 per cent, 8 points; Heathcote 121, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 4100, 4; Colbinabbin 105, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 92, 4; Mount Pleasant 54, 4; White Hills 85, 0; Elmore 73, 0; North Bendigo 3, 0.