BY NATHAN DOLE
Hawks, Storm fight to gain edge
EAGLEHAWK and Strathfieldsaye Storm will vie to gain a psychological edge by winning this Saturday’s round 12 match in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL’s A-grade netball competition.
The match on Eaglehawk’s court in Canterbury Park is likely to be an elimination final preview.
Teams are back in action after last weekend’s rest as Bendigo took on the Victorian Amateur Football Association in the inter-league footy match at Brighton’s Elsternwick Park.
The Kylie Piercy-coached Hawks start the round in fifth place, but just four points behind Strathfieldsaye.
When these teams met in round three it was the Steph Freemantle-coached Storm which won 33-27 at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
The Hawks had a bye in round 11 as Strathfieldsaye scored an 11-goal win at home against Golden Square.
Another big match on Saturday will be at Golden Square’s Fur Life Oval in Wade Street.
The Teigan Redwood-coached Golden Square will chase its third win of the season against Castlemaine.
A long run of defeats for the Square was ended in round three when it won at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve by four goals.
On that day Chris O’Sullivan was coaching Golden Square.
Increased work commitments meant O’Sullivan stepped down from his coaching role after the round five match at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
Another big test for the Chloe Hughes-coached Castlemaine.
In round 11 the Magpies were outpointed by a slick South Bendigo at Camp Reserve.
South Bendigo starts this round eight points adrift, but level on percentage with Eaglehawk.
The Bloods are at home in Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval to take on Kangaroo Flat this Saturday.
The Alicia McGlashan-coached Bloods have not given up hope on qualifying for finals.
To achieve the feat South Bendigo has to get on a winning roll.
The Bloods scored 70 goals a 43-goal victory at Castlemaine in round 11.
Massive test against a quality Kangaroo Flat team this round.
When the Bloods and Roos met in round three it was Kangaroo Flat which bound away to record a 60-27 victory.
After a rest in round 11 as it was drawn to play Maryborough, the Jayden Cowling-coached Roos have a chance to reclaim top spot on the ladder.
It’s a rest for the second-placed Gisborne, but the Bulldogs will play at Maryborough’s Princes Park in all other grades.
The ladder-leading Sandhurst has the bye.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Sandhurst 170 per cent, 28 points; Gisborne 138, 28; Kangaroo Flat 180, 24; Strathfieldsaye 95, 20; Eaglehawk 78, 16; South Bendigo 78, 8; Golden Square 62, 8; Castlemaine 60, 4.