Pies ride wave into must-win clash with Bulldogs
CASTLEMAINE is riding a wave of confidence into Sunday’s first semi-final clash with Gisborne in the A-grade netball competition run by the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League.
The Magpies and Bulldogs meet in a must-win clash at Queen Elizabwth Oval.
In the regular season it was Gisborne which won 43-34 in the third round match against Castlemaine at Gardiner Reserve.
The Bulldogs marked a 49-37 triumph on Castlemaine’s court at Camp Reserve in the 12th round.
Castlemaine marked a long-awaited return to A-grade finals when it won last Sunday’s elimination final against South Bendigo by 28 goals.
The victory was a week after the Magpies beat Sandhurst, 47-46 at Camp Reserve.
Jointly coached by Fiona Fowler and Gary Cooke, Castlemaine will take plenty of momentum into the clash with the team in red, white and blue.
Gisborne is on the rebound from a 15-goal loss to Sandhurst in the qualifying final.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Bulldogs showed how much of a threat they can be when they scored a 45-40 win against Kangaroo Flat in the round 16 match at Gardiner Reserve.
A big day for Gisborne includes being in the A-reserve first semi-final against South Bendigo.
The Bulldogs beat the Bloods by 10 goals in round six and then won 40-31 at the QEO in the 15th round.
On the first weekend of the finals, Gisborne went down 33-41 to Sandhurst in the qualifying final, while the Bloods eliminated Castlemaine, 48-37 in Sunday’s game.
It’s a showdown between the Bulldogs and Bloods in B-grade.
Ledger in this season’s meetings is one-all.
Gisborne won at home in round six by 10 goals, and the Bloods won a great contest, 38-36 in the 15th round.
The Bulldogs were stung by a one-goal loss to Kangaroo Flat in last Saturday’s qualifying final.
South Bendigo won a hard-fought elimination final with Strathfieldsaye Storm, 37-34.
In the B-reserve first semi it’s Kangaroo Flat against Eaglehawk.
The Roos romped to a 26-goal victory against the Two Blues in the third round at Dower Park.
Eaglehawk won 54-40 in the 12th round at Canterbury Park.
Kangaroo Flat is on the rebound from a 44-49 loss to Gisborne in the qualifying final.
The Hawks beat South Bendigo in the elimination final by nine goals.
First on court for Sunday’s play will be Kangaroo Flat and Maryborough in the 17-and-under match.
Latest meeting between the clubs was in round 10 where the Roos won 40-30 on Maryborough’s court at Princes Park.
Kangaroo Flat was beaten, 37-42 in the qualifying final showdown with Sandhurst.
The Magpies ensured their season would last another week in a 48-43 victory against Golden Square in the elimination final.
Schedule for Sunday’s first semi-finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval:
17-under at 10am: Kangaroo Flat v Maryborough.
B-reserve at 11.20am: Kangaroo Flat v Eaglehawk.
B-grade at 12.40pm: Gisborne v South Bendigo.
A-reserve at 2pm: Gisborne v South Bendigo.
A-grade at 3.20pm: Gisborne v Castlemaine.
Written by Nathan Dole.
