BY NATHAN DOLE
Saints primed to lift pressure on Bloods in Elmore
HEATHCOTE will turn the pressure up when it plays Elmore in this Saturday’s fifth round of A-grade netball action across the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL.
The Saints make their way to Elmore to face the Bloods.
It’s a showdown between third and fourth.
Massive test for the Brooke Bolton and Kelsey Hayes-coached Heathcote against the unbeaten Bloods.
In a strong start to the season, Elmore has beaten Colbinabbin, North Bendigo and Leitchville-Gunbower.
Latest hit-out for the Allira Holmes and Gabe Richards-coached Elmore was at Gunbower.
The Bloods outplayed Leitchville Gunbower to record a 70-57 victory.
Heathcote hit back from its loss at Colbinabbin in the third round to beat North Bendigo by 11 goals in last Saturday’s match at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
At Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval it will be Lockington Bamawm United up against Mount Pleasant.
The Ash Cullen-coached LBU fought on for a 42-38 victory against the Harlowe Huntly Hawks at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve last round.
As the Cats beat the Hawks, Mount Pleasant took a hard-earned rest as it was allocated the bye.
The Anthea McCleary-coached Blues had a tough start against Heathcote and White Hills in the opening two rounds.
Mount Pleasant defeated Huntly in the round three showdown.
A winless North Bendigo is home at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street to take on the ladder-leading White Hills.
Huge challenge for the Kiralee Kinder and Stacy Kingdon-coached North Bendigo to break the Demons run.
The red, white and blue will be striving to bring a high level of defensive intensity and also to capitalise on chances against the reigning premier.
Chasing back-to-back premierships, White Hills was under the pump in last Saturday’s home game against Colbinabbin.
The Lauren Bowles-coached Demons fought on for a 61-59 in a rematch of last September’s grand finalists.
Colbinabbin is home at M.J. Morgan Oval to take on Huntly.
The Jen McIntyre-coached has a one-two record, but two of those matches were against the powerful Elmore and White Hills line-ups.
A run for the Kym Bell-coached Huntly began with the home game against White Hills and was followed by the bye, clash on Mount Pleasant’s court at Toolleen, and then at home to the LBU Cats.
Leitchville Gunbower has the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
White Hills 180 per cent, 16 points; Leitchville Gunbower 138, 12; Elmore 119, 12; Heathcote 117, 12; Colbinabbin 100, 4; Mount Pleasant 80, 4; Lockington Bamawm United 62, 4; North Bendigo 66, 0; Huntly 56, 0.