South Bendigo beats Gisborne by goal on QEO court
SOUTH Bendigo marked its best netball match of the season to score a one-goal victory against Gisborne in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League’s 15th round on Saturday.
The Bloods and Bulldogs clashed on the court at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
It had been many years since South Bendigo had taken the premiership points against Gisborne in the league’s top grade.
The Jannelle Hobbs-coached Bloods held a two-goal lead at half-time and three quarter-time and withstood a spirited fight by the Bulldogs in the last to clinch a 37-36 victory.
Best for South Bendigo were Olivia Mason as goal attack and teenager Ella Flavell at wing attack.
Victory lifted South Bendigo to the fourth rung as Castlemaine, which had beaten the Bloods by 18 goals the previous round, was defeated at Kangaroo Flat.
Regardless of round 18 results, South Bendigo and Castlemaine will meet in an elimination final.
The ladder-leading Kangaroo Flat marked its 14th win of the season against Castlemaine.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos are on an 11-game winning streak after a 57-38 result against the Magpies at Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park.
A key to the Roos’ victory was the defensive play of Ingrid Hopkins and Carly Van Den Heuvel, and work of Ashley Ryan and Chelsea Sartori in mid-court.
Castlemaine coach Fiona Fowler played a great game as the Magpies’ goalkeeper.
The Pies worked incredibly hard against the premership favourites who took control late in the first half and then throughout the final term.
In other matches, Maryborough marked its fifth win of the season as the Magpies soared to a 52-29 win against Strathfieldsaye on the Princes Park court.
Eaglehawk was beaten 39-69 by the strong Sandhurst line-up at Canterbury Park.
Golden Square passed the 50-goal mark but was beaten by Kyneton at Fur Life Oval in Wade Street.
Highlight of next Saturday’s 16th round will be the Gisborne and Kangaroo Flat showdown at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
Kyneton faces Eaglehawk at Kyneton Showgrounds.
Strathfieldsaye plays South Bendigo at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannnery Lane.
Castlemaine hosts Golden Square at Camp Reserve.
Sandhurst takes on Maryborough at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Written by Nathan Dole.
