BY NATHAN DOLE
AFTER four consecutive defeats in A-grade netball action, South Bendigo won at Kyneton in Saturday’s 12th round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
It was a great contest between the Tigers and Bloods at Kyneton Showgrounds.
The Jannelle Hobbs-coached South Bendigo was desperate for victory to be a chance of reclaiming its place in the top five.
The Bloods led 16-14 at quarter-time, but the Tigers fought back to make it 24-all by half-time.
Quarter three was to be one of South Bendigo’s best in many weeks as it scored 14 goals and held the yellow and black to a tally of eight.
The Dianne Guest-Oakley coached Kyneton scored eight goals in the final term, but the Bloods added 11 to complete a 49-40 victory.
Strathfieldsaye was on its court at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane to play Castlemaine.
The Fiona Fowler and Gary Cooke-coached Castlemaine won the first term, 14-10, and then upped its intensity in the second.
A 12-7 result in the second gave the Magpies a nine-goal buffer by half-time.
In the third, Castlemaine scored 13 goals as Storm added nine.
The Steph Freemantle-coached Strathfieldsaye fought on to win the last, 13-12, but the match ended in a 51-39 victory for the Magpies.
Eaglehawk was up against the in-form Gisborne at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne led 11-8 at quarter-time and 27-12 by the main break.
An Eaglehawk team coached by Kylie Piercy tried hard, but Gisborne’s slick passing in all thirds of the court was superb.
Gisborne won the third term, 14-4, and the last, 14-6.
At the final whistle the Bulldogs led 55-22.
Kangaroo Flat dominated its match against Maryborough.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Roos won 85-34 on their court at Dower Park.
Golden Square faced a daunting task against Sandhurst at Fur Life Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.
It was another red-hot start by the Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst which led 23-9 by quarter-time.
Formidable in all thirds of the court, Sandhurst won the next two terms, 25-5 and 23-9.
The Benita Swatton-coached Golden Square never stopped trying against an opponent stacked with multiple premiership winners.
Sandhurst netted a 97-29 victory.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Sandhurst 217 per cent, 48 points; Gisborne 180, 40; Kangaroo Flat 167, 36; Castlemaine 129, 34; South Bendigo 106, 22; Strathfieldsaye 99, 22; Kyneton 91, 18; Eaglehawk 73, 12; Maryborough 56, 8; Golden Square 35, 0.
In next Saturday’s 13th round, Gisborne hosts Kangaroo Flat at Gardiner Reserve in the clash between second and third.
The unbeaten Sandhurst faces Strathfieldsaye at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Castlemaine is on its court at Camp Reserve to play Eaglehawk.
South Bendigo and Golden Square meet at Harry Trott Oval in Neale Street, Kennington.
At Maryborough’s Princes Park it’s the Magpies up against Kyneton.
Round 12 scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Kyneton 29 lt South Bendigo 47, Strathfieldsaye 39 lt Castlemaine 46, Eaglehawk 38 lt Gisborne 61, Kangaroo Flat bye, Golden Square 25 lt Sandhurst 64.
B-grade:
Kyneton 36 dr South Bendigo 36, Strathfieldsaye 60 d Castlemaine 23, Eaglehawk 55 lt Gisborne 68, Kangaroo Flat 53 d Maryborough 21, Golden Square 32 lt Sandhurst 59.
B-reserve:
Kyneton 26 lt South Bendigo 50, Strathfieldsaye 52 d Castlemaine 39, Eaglehawk 38 lt Gisborne 47, Kangaroo Flat 104 d Maryborough 26, Golden Square 18 lt Sandhurst 53.
17-and-under:
Kyneton 15 lt South Bendigo 34, Strathfieldsaye 43 d Castlemaine 27, Eaglehawk 21 lt Gisborne 57, Kangaroo Flat 39 lt Maryborough 50, Golden Square 47 lt Sandhurst 50.
Ladders after 12 rounds:
A-reserve:
Gisborne 200 per cent, 48 points; Sandhurst 180, 44; South Bendigo 101, 32; Kangaroo Flat 117, 28; Castlemaine 96, 28; Strathfieldsaye 87, 24; Eaglehawk 74, 20; Kyneton 62, 10; Golden Square 57, 6.
B-grade:
Sandhurst 196 per cent, 48 points; Gisborne 172, 40; Kangaroo Flat 137, 40; Strathfieldsaye 104, 26; South Bendigo 101, 26; Eaglehawk 89, 22; Golden Square 89, 20; Kyneton 76, 10; Castlemaine 56, 6; Maryborough 47, 2.
B-reserve:
Sandhurst 236 per cent, 44 points; Kangaroo Flat 192, 44; Gisborne 145, 36; Strathfieldsaye 130, 32; Eaglehawk 118, 28; South Bendigo 111, 24; Castlemaine 63, 16; Golden Square 68, 12; Kyneton 40, 4; Maryborough 41, 0.
17-and-under:
Gisborne 192 per cent, 48 points; Sandhurst 190, 44; Golden Square 149, 32; Maryborough 122, 30; Strathfieldsaye 115, 30; Kangaroo Flat 106, 18; Castlemaine 96, 18; Eaglehawk 66, 12; South Bendigo 54, 8; Kyneton 19, 0.