Sandhurst takes massive step toward unique netball feat
SANDHURST took a massive step toward a unique feat in Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League A-grade netball history on Saturday.
In pursuit of a fourth consecutive A-grade premiership, Sandhurst won through to another grand final after a massive second semi-final win against Kangaroo Flat.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst dominated from the outset of the match at Queen Elizabeth Oval and did not let-up.
Kangaroo Flat may have earned a week’s rest courtesy of finishing the home and away series on top of the ladder and won its latest showdown with Sandhurst by 19 goals.
On day three of the Bendigo FNL finals series it was Sandhurst which turned up the heat, and then some.
The Dragons led 13-7 at quarter-time of the second semi and had gained a 15-goal break by the end of the second term.
Sandhurst’s pressure and ability to capitalise on turnovers was outstanding as it won the third term, 20-7, on the way to a resounding 65-26 victory.
Gilchrist praised what was one of the club’s greatest performances in finals history.
It was an outstanding effort by Sandhurst which has a week’s rest and will wait to play the winner of the preliminary final showdown between Kangaroo Flat and Gisborne in the grand final.
Represented across all five grades on second semi-final day, Sandhurst had four teams triumph.
The A-reserve match went into overtime as Sandhurst claimed a 47-44 victory against Kangaroo Flat.
In B-grade, Sandhurst won 49-44 against Kangaroo Flat.
A high-scoring B-reserve contest ended in a 57-48 win for Sandhurst against Gisborne.
Unbeaten in the run to the finals, Gisborne marked a 51-44 victory against Sandhurst in the 17-and-under match.
Schedule for Saturday’s preliminary finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval:
17-and-under at 10am: Sandhurst v Kangaroo Flat.
B-reserve at 11.20am: Gisborne v Kangaroo Flat.
B-grade at 12.40pm: Kangaroo Flat v South Bendigo.
A-reserve at 2pm: Kangaroo Flat v Gisborne.
A-grade at 3.20pm: Kangaroo Flat v Gisborne.
Written by Nathan Dole.
