BY NATHAN DOLE
Hawks outpoint Magpies on Two Blues court
EAGLEHAWK outpointed Castlemaine to win Saturday’s fourth round clash in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition.
The Hawks and Magpies contested the feature match in Pat Cronin Foundation Round.
It was a scintillating start by the Kylie Piercy-coached Hawks as they led 19-11 at quarter-time.
The Borough’s buffer was 14 by the long break after it won the second term, 12-6.
A Castlemaine line-up coached by Chloe Hughes kept working hard, but the Hawks were superb in all thirds of the court.
Eaglehawk led 46-26 at three quarter-time and won the final term, 8-7, to seal a 54-33 victory.
A 20-goal opening term put the Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne well in control of its match against South Bendigo at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
The Alicia McGlashan-coached South Bendigo lifted to score 10 goals in the second, but the red, white and blue added 15.
A 19-goal lead for Gisborne at the main break became 21 at a quarter to go.
The Bloods upped the pressure in the last as they scored 11 goals as the Bulldogs added 14.
At the final siren Gisborne led 61-37.
Kangaroo Flat made a brilliant start to its match on Golden Square’s court in Wade Street.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos leapt to a 20-goal lead by quarter-time after a 22-2 blitz.
An experienced Kangaroo Flat line-up which has plenty of skill through mid-court and in attack was tough for the Chris O’Sullivan-coached Golden Square to stop.
The Roos won the second term, 21-10, and the third, 34-15.
It became a percentage-lifting Kangaroos as they bounded to a 90-35 victory and top spot on the ladder.
An extended break for the Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst rolled on.
After a bye in round three, Sandhurst was drawn to play Maryborough which is not fielding an A-grade team.
The Steph Freemantle-coached Strathfieldsaye had the bye.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Kangaroo Flat 175 per cent, 8 points; Gisborne 137, 8; Eaglehawk 126, 8; Strathfieldsaye 124, 8; Sandhurst 103, 4; Castlemaine 90, 4; South Bendigo 64, 4; Golden Square 63, 4.
A highlight of next Saturday’s fifth round will be Kangaroo Flat on its court at Dower Park against Eaglehawk.
Sandhurst and South Bendigo meet in the Graeme Wright Memorial Cup match at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Gisborne is home at Gardiner Reserve to take on Golden Square.
Castlemaine and Strathfieldaye play on the Magpies’ court at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
Maryborough’s teams have the bye.
Round four scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Eaglehawk 40 lt Castlemaine 41, South Bendigo 27 lt Gisborne 69, Golden Square 36 lt Kangaroo Flat 43, Maryborough 49 d Sandhurst 43, Strathfieldsaye had the bye.
B-grade:
Eaglehawk 46 d Castlemaine 35, South Bendigo 30 lt Gisborne 61; Golden Square 39 lt Kangaroo Flat 56, Maryborough 24 lt Sandhurst 73, Strathfieldsaye had the bye.
B-reserve:
Eaglehawk 73 d Castlemaine 43, South Bendigo 27 lt Gisborne 53, Golden Square 25 lt Kangaroo Flat 61, Maryborough 13 lt Sandhurst 87, Strathfieldsaye had the bye.
17-and-under:
Eaglehawk 27 lt Castlemaine 52, South Bendigo 47 lt Gisborne 51, Golden Square 85 d Kangaroo Flat 18, Maryborough 25 lt Sandhurst 73, Strathfieldsaye had the bye.
League ladders:
A-reserve:
Gisborne 171 per cent, 12 points; Strathfieldsaye 148, 12; Kangaroo Flat 111, 10; Maryborough 100, 10; Castlemaine 99, 8; Sandhurst 94, 4; Eaglehawk 89, 4; South Bendigo 68, 4; Golden Square 74, 0.
B-grade:
Gisborne 201 per cent, 12 points; Kangaroo Flat 138, 12; Strathfieldsaye 132, 12; Sandhurst 142, 8; Eaglehawk 104, 8; Castlemaine 94, 8; South Bendigo 74, 4; South Bendigo 74, 4; Golden Square 77, 0; Maryborough 38, 0.
B-reserve:
Sandhurst 227 per cent, 12 points; Strathfieldsaye 129, 12; Gisborne 200, 8; Kangaroo Flat 169, 8; Eaglehawk 142, 8; South Bendigo 112, 8; Golden Square 74, 4; Castlemaine 59, 4; Maryborough 28, 0.
17-and-under:
Golden Square 217 per cent, 16 points; Sandhurst 244, 12; Maryborough 95, 12; Strathfieldsaye 132, 8; South Bendigo 118, 8; Castlemaine 92, 4; Gisborne 80, 4; Eaglehawk 35, 0; Kangaroo Flat 34, 0.