BY NATHAN DOLE
Race for A-grade premiership wide open
THE race for the A-grade netball premiership in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League is wide open.
As teams prepare to tip off the second half of the season this Saturday it’s Kangaroo Flat which leads the race.
Stung by consecutive defeats in last year’s finals action, the Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos have bounced back superbly.
After a seven-goal loss on its Dower Park court to Sandhurst in round one, Kangaroo Flat has gone on a six-game winning streak.
Best of the Roos’ results was last Saturday when it won at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve by six goals.
Locked on 24 points with Sandhurst and Gisborne, Kangaroo Flat faces a huge test in this Friday night’s clash with Sandhurst at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Dragons and Kangaroos will fight for the four premiership points from 7pm.
A perennial power which has won four of the past five A-grade grand finals, Sandhurst is to the fore once again.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst was on track to mark four premierships in a row until Gisborne’s brilliant fightback in the final quarter of last September’s play-off.
At the final siren Gisborne led 40-39.
In pursuit of back-to-back premierships, Gisborne is third going into the second half of the season.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached red, white and blue are three wins clear of Strathfieldsaye in the duel to claim a double chance at finals time.
Made a brilliant start as it beat Sandhurst in the grand final rematch in round two at the QEO by four goals.
Has a bye this round and will then be at home to take on Sandhurst on June 29.
Strathfieldsaye and Eaglehawk are well-placed to make their way back into a finals campaign as Castlemaine and South Bendigo have slipped down the ladder.
The Steph Freemantle-coached Strathfieldsaye has a three-four record which includes a 33-27 victory against Eaglehawk at Triple M Park in the third round.
Struck back from a two-goal loss in its next three games to beat Golden Square, Eaglehawk and Castlemaine.
A tough run for Storm as it played Kangaroo Flat, Gisborne and Sandhurst before a rest.
Big game for Strathfieldsaye this Saturday on South Bendigo’s court at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
The Kylie Piercy-coached Eaglehawk has also played well to have a three-four record and be perched on the fifth rung of the ladder.
Bounced back from a hat-trick defeats to score a 10-goal win against South Bendigo last Saturday.
Crucial matches coming up across the next month as the Hawks play at Golden Square, have a bye, host Strathfieldsaye, and then travel to Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
Golden Square is a chance to make its way into the top five.
Huge challenge for the blue and gold which is now being coached by Teigan Redwood to win this Saturday’s home game at Fur Life Oval against Eaglehawk.
The Bulldogs broke their long-running losing streak when the team which was being coached by Chris O’Sullivan scored a 40-36 victory at Castlemaine.
Have since marked second win of the season in a closely-fought contest with South Bendigo.
Although chances of playing finals are remote, South Bendigo and Castlemaine could play a big part in shaping the make-up of the final five.
The Alicia McGlashan did upset Storm in round one and face Strathfieldsaye again this Saturday.
A 37-53 result against Gisborne was clearly the beat performance of the season by the Chloe Hughes-coached Castlemaine.
A club-by-club look at the run home and season so far:
Kangaroo Flat– 6-1, 199.5 per cent, 24 points.
Run home: v Sandhurst, away; bye; v South Bendigo, a; v Golden Square, h; v Eaglehawk, a; v Strathfieldsaye, h; v Castlemaine, a; bye; v Gisborne, h.
So far: lt Sandhurst 39-46, bye, d South Bendigo 60-27, d Golden Square 90-35, d Eaglehawk 76-15, d Strathfieldsaye 59-31, d Castlemaine 86-33, bye, d Gisborne 49-43.
Sandhurst – 6-1, 199.1, 24.
Run home: v Kangaroo Flat, h; v Gisborne; a; bye; bye; v South Bendigo, a; v Golden Square, h; v Eaglehawk, a; v Strathfieldsaye, h; v Castlemaine, a.
So far: d Kangaroo Flat 46-39, lt Gisborne 38-42, bye, bye, d South Bendigo 64-14, d Golden Square 72-26, d Eaglehawk 75-36, d Strathfieldsaye 68-25, d Castlemaine 89-45.
Gisborne– 6-1, 138, 24.
Run home: bye; v Sandhurst, h; bye; v South Bendigo, h; v Golden Square, a; v Eaglehawk, h; v Strathfieldsaye, a; v Castlemaine, h; v Kangaroo Flat, a.
So far: bye, d Sandhurst 42-38, bye, d South Bendigo 61-37, d Golden Square 58-31, d Eaglehawk 53-25, d Strathfieldsaye 40-29, d Castlemaine 67-53, lt Kangaroo Flat 43-49.
Strathfieldsaye – 3-4, 90, 12.
Run home: v South Bendigo, a; v Golden Square, h; v Eaglehawk, a; bye; v Castlemaine, h; v Kangaroo Flat, a; v Gisborne, h; v Sandhurst, a; bye.
So far: lt South Bendigo 34-36, d Golden Square 56-36, d Eaglehawk 33-27, bye, d Castlemaine 64-36, lt Kangaroo Flat 31-59, lt Gisborne 29-40, lt Sandhurst 25-68, bye.
Eaglehawk– 3-4, 72, 12.
Run home: v Golden Square, a; bye; v Strathfieldsaye, h; v Castlemaine, a; v Kangaroo Flat, h; v Gisborne, a; v Sandhurst, h; bye; v South Bendigo, h.
So far: d Golden Square 44-33, bye, lt Strathfieldsaye 27-33, d Castlemaine 54-33, lt Kangaroo Flat 15-76, lt Gisborne 25-53, lt Sandhurst 36-75, bye, d South Bendigo 45-35.
Golden Square – 2-5, 60, 8.
Run home: v Eaglehawk, h; v Strathfieldsaye, a; v Castlemaine, h; v Kangaroo Flat, a; v Gisborne, h; v Sandhurst, a; bye; v South Bendigo, a; bye.
So far: lt Eaglehawk 33-44, lt Strathfieldsaye 36-56, d Castlemaine 40-36, lt Kangaroo Flat 35-90, lt Gisborne 31-58, lt Sandhurst 26-72, bye, d South Bendigo 38-36, bye.
Castlemaine– 1-6, 64, 4.
Run home: bye; v South Bendigo, h; v Golden Square, a; v Eaglehawk, h; v Strathfieldsaye, a; bye; v Kangaroo Flat, a; v Gisborne, a; v Sandhurst, a.
So far: bye, d South Bendigo 41-27, lt Golden Square 36-40, lt Eaglehawk 33-54, lt Strathfieldsaye 36-64, bye, lt Kangaroo Flat 33-86, lt Gisborne 53-37, lt Sandhurst 45-89.
South Bendigo– 1-6, 61, 4.
Run home: v Strathfieldsaye, h; v Castlemaine, a; v Kangaroo Flat, h; v Gisborne, a; v Sandhurst, h; bye; v Golden Square, h; v Eaglehawk, a.
So far: d Strathfieldsaye 36-34, lt Castlemaine 27-41, lt Kangaroo Flat 27-60, lt Gisborne 37-61, lt Sandhurst 14-64, bye, bye, lt Golden Square 36-38, lt Eaglehawk 35-45.
Maryborough – no A-grade team.