BY NATHAN DOLE
Hurst faces Roos under QEO lights
A FRIDAY night showdown between Sandhurst and Kangaroo Flat tips off the 10th round of A-grade netball action in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
Two of the league’s powerhouses of many years will play at Queen Elizabeth Oval from 7pm.
Last season’s runner-up, Sandhurst will have home-court advantage as second takes on first.
Since a seven-goal loss to Sandhurst in the opening round at Dower Park, Kangaroo Flat has gone on a six-game winning streak.
Latest victory for the Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos was at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve where the green and white beat the reigning premier by six goals.
Beat the maroon and blue and the Roos will move a win clear at the top of the ladder.
Sandhurst dominated last Saturday’s home game against Castlemaine to mark an 89-45 victory.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Dragons have plenty of attacking power and are strong in all thirds of the court in what’s likely to be another exciting duel between these clubs.
Bendigo Strikers’ team-mates Ruby Turner and Meg Williams were in superb touch for Sandhurst against Castlemaine.
It’s another big weekend for the Strikers who will play their third and final home of the Victorian Netball League at Red Energy Arena this Sunday.
Action starts at 1pm when the Strikers’ 23-and-under team, coached by Jayden Cowling, takes on Western Warriors.
The championship game starts at 2.40pm.
The Tracey Brereton-coached Strikers won Wednesday night’s championship clash with Casey Demons by six goals at the State Netball Centre in Parkville.
On Saturday, South Bendigo will be back home at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington to take on Strathfieldsaye from 2.30pm.
Latest hit-out for the Alicia McGlashan-coached South Bendigo ended in a 10-goal loss to Eaglehawk.
McGlashan’s coaching debut began with a 36-34 victory on Strathfieldsayes’ court at Triple M Park in the first round.
Fourth in the premiership race, the Steph Freemantle-coached Storm had a rest last weekend as it was drawn to play at Maryborough’s Princes Park.
Another important match will be at Golden Square’s Fur Life Oval in Wade Street where the blue and gold host Eaglehawk.
Now being coached by Teigan Redwood, Golden Square has a chance to draw level with the Hawks on three wins.
When these clubs met in round one at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park it was the Kylie Piercy-coached Two Blues who claimed a 44-33 victory.
It’s a break for the Chloe Hughes-coached Castlemaine in A-grade, but the Magpies will trek across to Maryborough’s Princes Park to contest the lower grades.
Gisborne has the bye.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Kangaroo Flat 199.5 per cent, 24 points; Sandhurst 199.1, 24; Gisborne 138, 24; Strathfieldsaye 90, 12; Eaglehawk 72, 12; Golden Square 60, 8; Castlemaine 64, 4; South Bendigo 61, 4.