BY NATHAN DOLE
Saints up pressure against Hoppers at Heathcote
A SHOWDOWN between fifth and fourth at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park highlights this Saturday’s round 10 action in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition.
Heathcote will face Colbinabbin on the Barrack Reserve court from 3pm.
The Brooke Bolton and Kelsey Hayes-coached Heathcote starts the round a win behind the Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin.
When these clubs met in round three it was the slick Colbinabbin team which surged to a 47-30 victory at M.J. Morgan Oval.
The Saints and Grasshoppers won their round nine matches leading into the league’s general bye for the King’s Birthday holiday weekend.
Heathcote charged clear in the second half to record a 25-goal win against Huntly.
The Grasshoppers marked the trek to North Bendigo’s court at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street by winning 65-50.
Another big match on Saturday will be at Leitchville where Leitchville Gunbower takes on North Bendigo from 2.30pm.
Been a terrific season by the Caitlyn Hamilton-coached LG Bombers to be third on a six-two record.
A great run by Leitchville Gunbower included an eight-goal win against Colbinabbin at Gunbower in the second round.
The Bombers will start favourite against a North Bendigo line-up determined to move closer to Heathcote in the race for a finals berth.
A high level of pressure in all thirds of the court will be a key for the Kiralee Kinder and Stacey Kingdon-coached North Bendigo.
In round three the Bombers won on North Bendigo’s court at Bendigo Club Oval by 27 goals.
The unbeaten Winslow White Hills Demons are home at the Scott Street ground to take on Lockington Bamawm United from 1.15pm.
Back in round three it was the Lauren Bowles-coached Demons who fired up for a 30-goal win against the Ash Cullen-coached Cats.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks are home at Strauch Reserve to play Mount Pleasant from 2.30pm.
Despite a final margin of 25 goals in round eight at Heathcote the Kym Bell-coached Hawks showed plenty of positive signs, especially in the second quarter.
Big test for the brown and gold against the Anthea McCleary-coached Mount Pleasant which needs a win to stay in touch with the five.
The Blues rounded out the first half of the home-and-away series with a home game against Elmore and then away game at Gunbower against the LG Bombers.
Elmore has the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
White Hills 165 per cent, 32 points; Elmore 118, 28; Leitchville Gunbower 136, 24; Colbinabbin 135, 20; Heathcote 100, 16; North Bendigo 81, 8; Mount Pleasant 74, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 72, 8; Huntly 54, 0.