BY NATHAN DOLE
A HAT-TRICK of wins is Mount Pleasant’s target as it takes to the netball court for Saturday’s third-round clash with Colbinabbin in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote District FNL season.
Wins at North Bendigo and then at home against Huntly have put the Carine Comer-coached Mount Pleasant in second place on the ladder.
The Blues travel to Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan to take on the fourth-placed Grasshoppers.
Although it was beaten at Elmore by five goals, there was plenty to like about the way the Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin played.
It was 46-44 in favour of the Bloods going into the final term.
Elmore took control to clinch a 61-56 victory.
Mounts was too strong for Huntly as it won 47-37 at Toolleen.
The Blues slick passing from mid-court to the attacking third will test Colbo in every quarter.
Another big match will be under lights at the Scott Street ground where White Hills hosts Heathcote.
The Lauren Bowles-coached White Hills won 88-21 at Leitchville in round one and then had a bye.
Runner-up last season and a league powerhouse for many seasons, White Hills has plenty of attacking options and strong defensive unit.
This will be a massive test for Heathcote which has a one-one record.
The Saints marked a 56-35 win at Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve against Leitchville Gunbower last round.
For Saturday night’s match, Kelsey Hayes is sole coach of the Saints as mid-court star and co-coach Brooke Bolton will be at a wedding.
Huntly or Lockington Bamawm United is likely to mark its first victory of the season when they meet on the Hawks’ court at Strauch Reserve.
The Kym Bell-coached Huntly has had a tough start in taking on last season’s premier and then Mounts in the opening two rounds.
Lockington Bamawm United will be fired up after a 10-goal loss on North Bendigo’s court.
Pressure and capitalising on chances will be key messages stressed by Cats’ playing coach Jessie Hardess.
Leitchville Gunbower is back at Leitchville to take on Elmore.
It’s been a tough stretch for the Gemma Angove-coached Bombers who took on White Hills in the season opener and then travelled to Heathcote.
An Elmore line-up jointly coached by Allira Holmes and Gabe Richards looks to have too much run and skill through mid-court, and attacking strength for the LG team to hold.
North Bendigo has the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL’s A-grade netball competition 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.