BY NATHAN DOLE
SANDHURST and Gisborne will be to the fore in Saturday’s netball second semi-finals in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
The Dragons and Bulldogs feature in most of the second semis to be played at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The QEO is the home of Sandhurst FNC and the maroon and blue has all five teams in action on Saturday.
The Dragons take on Gisborne in four of the five matches to be played.
Sole match which is not a Sandhurst and Gisborne showdown will be in B-reserve where the Dragons take on Kangaroo Flat.
In pursuit of a fifth consecutive A-grade premiership, Sandhurst will face Gisborne in Saturday’s second semi-final at 3.20pm.
It’s been an unbeaten run in 16 matches for the Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst this season.
Defences were on top as Sandhurst won 38-32 at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve in the seventh round.
Next meeting was in round 16 where the maroon and blue beat the Bulldogs, 47-31 on the QEO court.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne tipped off its finals campaign by scoring a 37-31 victory against Kangaroo Flat in last Saturday’s qualifying final.
It’s a daunting test for Gisborne against a Sandhurst team led brilliantly by Bec Smith and Meg Williams.
There’s also the experience of Kelsey Meade and Heather Oliver, and the athleticism of Charlotte and Imogen Sexton, and Sophie Shoebridge in the Sandhurst line-up.
Key players for Gisborne include co-captains Kirby Elliott and Claudia Mawson, Rylee Connell, Emerson Lakey and Tiana Newman.
On Sunday it will be Kangaroo Flat and Castlemaine fighting to stay in the premiership race when they meet in the first semi-final at 3.20pm.
This season’s meetings between the Kangaroos and Magpies stand at one-all.
In round five Castlemaine dominated on its court at Camp Reserve to claim a 55-39 victory.
The Roos bounced back to win the 14th round contest at Dower Park, 62-39.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroo Flat faced Gisborne in the qualifying final and was beaten by six goals.
Last season’s runner-up, Kangaroo Flat will not want the ’23 campaign to end on Sunday.
Players to watch for the Roos include captain Chelsea Sartori, Ashley Ryan, defender Carly Van Den Heuvel, Abbey Ryan and Milly Wicks.
A Castlemaine team jointly coached by Fiona Fowler, playing, and Gary Cooke netted a 53-34 win against South Bendigo in the elimination final.
The Magpies’ team led by Jane O’Donohue includes Caitlin Richardson, Meg Ginnivan, Montaya Sardi and Kyla Byrne.
In A-reserve, Gisborne takes on Sandhurst in the second semi from 2pm.
The Bulldogs won the round seven match at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve by five goals.
Scores were locked on 50-all at the end of the 16th round showdown at the QEO.
Sandhurst began its finals series by scoring a 50-27 victory against Kangaroo Flat in the qualifying final.
The Kangaroos will aim to bounce back from the defeat in Sunday’s first semi against South Bendigo at 2pm.
Although the Bloods finished below the Roos on the ladder they won both matches in the home-and-away series by four goals both times.
South Bendigo won 38-34 on the Kangaroos’ court in round two, and 40-36 at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval in the 11th round.
An exciting elimination final between South Bendigo and Castlemaine ended in a 46-43 win for the red and white.
It’s a clash between the B-grade teams from Sandhurst and Gisborne in the second semi at 12.40pm on Saturday.
The Dragons won 53-38 on Gisborne’s court in the seventh round.
A great contest in the 16th round ended 54-all at the QEO.
Gisborne scored a 55-41 win against Kangaroo Flat in the qualifying final.
The Kangaroos face Strathfieldsaye Storm in Sunday’s first semi at 12.40pm.
Kangaroo Flat won 41-22 on Storm’s court at Triple M Park in round seven.
Latest meeting between the clubs was in the 16th round where Strathfieldsaye won 44-31 at Dower Park.
Storm beat South Bendigo, 50-27 in the elimination final.
Kangaroo Flat will feature in the B-reserve second semi against Sandhurst at 11.20am on Saturday.
This season’s meetings between the teams stand at one-all.
Sandhurst won 42-33 at the QEO in round one, and the Roos marked a 45-40 victory at Dower Park in the 10th round.
The Flat outplayed Gisborne for a 55-41 result in the qualifying final.
On Sunday it will be Gisborne against Strathfieldaye in the B-reserve first semi-final at 11.20am.
The Bulldogs beat Storm, 45-35 in round one at Gardiner Reserve.
Strathfieldsaye won 42-37 in the 10th round at Triple M Park.
Storm advanced to week two of the finals after it eliminated Eaglehawk, 37-29.
First-up in the weekend’s action will be the 17-under teams from Sandhurst and Gisborne at 10am on Saturday.
Record between the second semi-finalists in the home-and-away series was one-all.
Gisborne won 49-43 at home in the seventh round, and the Dragons fired up for a 55-44 victory in the 16th round.
Gisborne beat Golden Square in the qualifying final by 13 goals.
On Sunday, Golden Square faces Strathfieldsaye in the 17-under first semi at 10am.
The Bulldogs beat Storm in both matches in the run to the finals.
Golden Square won 47-40 at Triple M Park in round two, and 49-39 at Fur Life Oval in Wade Street in the 11th round.
It was a one-goal thriller in the elimination final between Strathfieldsaye and Maryborough.
Storm led 36-35 at the final siren.
Line-ups for Saturday’s second semi-finals:
Sandhurst.
A-grade. Coach: Tamara Gilchrist:
Bec Smith (captain), Meg Williams (captain), Shae Clifford, Kelsey Meade, Heather Oliver, Kelsey Palpratt, Paige Ryan, Charlotte Sexton, Imogen Sexton, Sophie Shoebridge, Ruby Turner.
A-reserve. Coach: Tamara Gilchrist.
Kelsey Ralph (captain), Katie Dean, Gabriella Greene, Tess Keating, Eliza Oxley, Kesley Palpratt, Paige Ryan, Charlotte Sexton, Lilly Walsh, Darcy Williams.
B-grade. Coach: Jarileey Schultz.
Briona Giddings (captain), Erica Dalrymple-Monro (vice-captain), Aimee Dean, Tahlia Isaac, Maggie Keating, Tarryn Knights, Eliza Oxley, Lucy Sherriff, Lily Trimby, Elli Williams.
B-reserve. Coach: Rose Gallagher.
Ruby Walsh (captain), Isabelle Whiteley (captain), Bec Dine, Lucia Dyer, Teresa Fitzpatrick, Brianna Fletcher, Sophie Giles, Kelsey Hamilton, Chloe Hann, Matilda Lockyer, Ava Perez, Polly Robertson.
17-under. Coach Carol Cathcart.
Reese Gilchrist (captain), Maya Dignan (vice-captain), Isabelle Brennan, Charlie Coghill, Lila Kelly, Claire McGee, Diana Napoleon, Neve Pinner, Jaida Raco, Harriett Whiteacre.
Gisborne.
A-grade. Coach: Tarryn Rymer
Kirby Elliott (captain), Claudia Mawson (captain), Kiralee Collings, Rylee Connell, Zoe Davies, Charlee Kemp, Emerson Lakey, Tiana Newman, Torie Skrijel.
A-reserve. Coach: Tarryn Rymer.
Tazma Morris (captain), Bridget Salter (vice-captain), Jemma Denman, Emily McDonald, Bianca McKay, Eloise Rodda, Olivia Rodda, Alexandra Russ.
B-grade. Coach: Bronwyn Slater.
Taylah Ranieri (captain), Shelley Farrugia, Chelsea Kennett, Georgia Murray, Monty Paton, Tarryn Rymer, Milly Shaw, Lulu Slater, Hannah Weier.
17-under. Coach: Rylee Connell.
Bella Connors (captain), Charlie Busby, Jessie Connors, Charlotte Davies, Olivia Fenn, Emma Joyce, Sapphy McCarthy, Charlotte Taylor, Dasha Taylor.
Kangaroo Flat.
B-reserve. Coach: Kate Newman
Shae Cairns (captain), Sophie Nicholson (captain), Lily Dickson, Madeline Dowling, Ashlye Faulkner, Lydia Lowndes, Gemma McPhee, Macey O’Shea, Gemma Roberts, Alex Rusbridge, Claudia Shelton, Hayley Smith.
Line-ups for Sunday’s first semi-finals:
Kangaroo Flat.
A-grade. Coach: Jayden Cowling.
Chelsea Sartori (captain), Ashley Ryan (vice-captain), Carly Van Den Heuvel (vice-captain), Lou Dupuy, Ingrid Hopkins, Ava Lowndes, Emma Moroney, Ashlee O’Shea, Abbey Ryan, Annie Spear, Ella Wicks, Milly Wicks.
A-reserve. Coach: Nicole Donnellon.
Emma Moroney (captain), Ashlee O’Shea (vice-captain), Lani Burns, Bronte Deary, Molly Drum, Chloe Fletcher, Darcie Fry, Lara Judd, Rose Kennett, Bella Pearse, Isabella Pitto, Amaya Schmidt.
B-grade. Coach: Laura Brooks.
Darcie Fry (captain), Nicola McIvor (captain), Bella Pearse (captain), Laura Brooks, Lani Burns, Molly Drum, Karly Elvey, Lucy Lang, Macey O’Shea, Alex Rusbridge, Claudia Shelton, Rachel Winfield.
Castlemaine.
A-grade. Co-coaches: Fiona Fowler, Gary Cooke.
Jane O’Donohue (captain), Kyla Byrne, Madeline Carter, Tara Ford, Fiona Fowler, Meg Ginnivan, Charlotte McMurray, Caitlin Richardson, Montaya Sardi, MIkaela Vaughan, Megan Wilson, Emma Winfield.
Gisborne.
B-reserve. Coach: Leesa Lord.
Sophia Davies (captain), Brooke Bernacki, Emma Cogger, Ellie Lord, Alex Matthews, Bec Merrett, Lily Prater, Maddison Russ, Brianah Thompson, Caitlyn Walker.
South Bendigo.
A-reserve. Coach: Elizabeth Taylor.
Stephanie Greene (captain), Amanda Walters (captain), Sarah Appleby, Shaina Brook, Paige Campbell, Eden Clifford, Holly Giddings, Hayley Harrington, Amber Hollis, Morgan McClellan, Jeanette Ross.
Strathfieldsaye.
B-grade. Coach: Kirsten Pollock.
Imogen Currie (captain), Chelsea Crapper, Olivia Erwin, Bethany Hromenko, Bridgette Keath, Lana Marsh, Chelsie Martyn, Cate O’Bree, Tahlee O’Keefe, Ella Raco.
B-reserve. Coach: Belinda Boyd.
Alicia Smalley (captain), Lucinda Sharp (vice-captain), Bridget Abe, Sienna Eddy, Maggie Gilmore, Meg Johns, Renn Minne, Lulu Mullins, Sally Nicholson, Annie Palmer, Claudia Petri, Mackenzie Strawbridge.
17-under. Coach: Fiona Schubert
Maeve Cass, Sienna Eddy, Lexie Fennell, Maggie Gilmore, Dakota Keanelly, Layla O’Shea, Charlize Pinder, Ella Pitson, Lainey Pollard.
Golden Square.
17-under. Coach: Lauren Swatton.
Charli Crawford, Charli Hamilton, Lilly Hope, Emma Keating, Keira Lawry, Kaylah Moon, Daisy Stringer, Holly Swatton, Abbi Wells.