BY NATHAN DOLE
A STUNNING three-goal win by Eaglehawk against South Bendigo has shaken up the A-grade netball competition after 10 rounds in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
The Hawks’ 44-41 victory on their Canterbury Park court against the Bloods has meant top-five hopes for Kyneton and Strathfieldsaye are far from gone.
The Kylie Piercy-coached Eaglehawk teamed superbly to beat a Bloods’ line-up which went into the match on a win-loss record of 4-4 and a draw.
South Bendigo was determined to take the points and stay clear of the Tigers and Storm.
It was not to be as the Two Blues celebrated win number two.
Match of the round was at Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park where the Roos took on the unbeaten Sandhurst.
In the rematch of last season’s grand finalists it was Sandhurst which dominated the opening term, 18-10.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos worked hard to score 10 goals in the second, but the ‘Hurst added 13 to lead 31-20 at half-time.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst showed it will be tough to stop in its pursuit of a fifth consecutive premiership was it won the second half, 25-17, and the match, 56-37.
Kyneton kept the pressure on the fifth-placed South Bendigo by scoring a 49-goal win against Golden Square at Kyneton Showgrounds.
The Dianne Guest-Oakley coached Tigers led 16-7 at quarter-time and then dominated the second to pour in 18 goals as Square added four.
The yellow and black won the next two terms, 20-3 and 15-6 to complete a 69-20 victory.
Strathfieldsaye was on its court at Triple M Park to take on the powerful Gisborne line-up.
The Steph Freemantle-coached Storm worked hard to be down by just four goals, 10-14 at quarter-time.
In the second it was Gisborne which took control through mid-court and scored 13 goals for a 27-17 lead by the main break.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Bulldogs did not let up the pressure as it won the third term, 15-5.
Storm fought back strongly in the last to score 12 goals and held Gisborne to 14.
At the final siren Gisborne led 56-34.
It was an all-Magpies contest at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
The Fiona Fowler and Gary Cooke-coached Castlemaine kept its hot form rolling in a 66-30 victory against Maryborough.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL’s A-grade netball competition:
Sandhurst 203 per cent, 40 points; Gisborne 183, 32; Castlemaine 132, 30; Kangaroo Flat 162, 28; South Bendigo 110, 18; Kyneton 103, 18; Strathfieldsaye 91, 18; Eaglehawk 69, 8; Maryborough 59, 8; Golden Square 36, 0.
Teams take a break for the general bye next weekend.
A highlight of the 11th round on July 8 will be Gisborne on its court at Gardiner Reserve to meet Castlemaine in a match between second and third.
South Bendigo and Kangaroo Flat are both on the rebound from defeat as they take to the court at Harry Trott Oval in Neale Street, Kennington.
Sandhurst is back at Queen Elizabeth Oval to play Kyneton.
Maryborough hosts Eaglehawk at Princes Park.
Golden Square and Strathfieldsaye will play at Fur Life Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.
Round 10 scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Eaglehawk 35 lt South Bendigo 37, Kangaroo Flat 37 lt Sandhurst 44, Strathfieldsaye 35 lt Gisborne 55, Kyneton 39 dr Golden Square 39, Castlemaine bye.
B-grade:
Eaglehawk 37 dr South Bendigo 37, Kangaroo Flat 39 lt Sandhurst 49, Strathfieldsaye 43 lt Gisborne 53, Kyneton 31 lt Golden Square 35, Castlemaine 46 d Maryborough 29.
B-reserve:
Eaglehawk 24 lt South Bendigo 30, Kangaroo Flat 45 lt Sandhurst 48, Strathfieldsaye 42 d Gisborne 37, Kyneton 25 lt Golden Square 48, Castlemaine 48 d Maryborough 31.
17-and-under:
Kangaroo Flat 35 lt Sandhurst 62, Eaglehawk 43 d South Bendigo 34, Strathfieldsaye 30 lt Gisborne 43, Kyneton 9 lt Golden Square 54, Castlemaine 48 d Maryborough 31.
Ladders after 10 rounds:
A-reserve:
Gisborne 214 per cent, 40 points; Sandhurst 170, 36; Kangaroo Flat 120, 24; Castlemaine 96, 24; South Bendigo 95, 24; Strathfieldsaye 78, 20; Eaglehawk 76, 16; Kyneton 64, 10; Golden Square 62, 6.
B-grade:
Sandhurst 191 per cent, 40 points; Gisborne 167, 32; Kangaroo Flat 131, 32; South Bendigo 103, 24; Strathfieldsaye 97, 22; Eaglehawk 83, 18; Golden Square 93, 16; Kyneton 80, 8; Castlemaine 63, 6; Maryborough 49, 2.
B-reserve:
Sandhurst 213 per cent, 40 points; Kangaroo Flat 179, 32; Gisborne 138, 28; Strathfieldsaye 130, 24; Eaglehawk 112, 24; South Bendigo 110, 20; Castlemaine 66, 16; Golden Square 71, 12; Kyneton 44, 4; Maryborough 46, 0.
17-and-under:
Gisborne 188 per cent, 40 points; Sandhurst 179, 36; Golden Square 166, 32; Maryborough 113, 22; Strathfieldsaye 110, 22; Castlemaine 105, 18; Kangaroo Flat 106, 14; Eaglehawk 74, 12; South Bendigo 49, 4; Kyneton 20, 0.