BY NATHAN DOLE
IT’S second against third as Gisborne and Kangaroo Flat meet in Saturday’s 13th round of A-grade netball in Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL action.
Gisborne has home-court advantage at Gardiner Reserve as two of the competition’s best of recent seasons renew their rivalry.
When they met in round four it was Kangaroo Flat which claimed a 44-42 victory against the Bulldogs at Dower Park.
Both line-ups are in great form.
Gisborne won 55-22 at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.
Key players for the Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne include Zoe Davies, Kirby Elliott, Emerson Lakey and Claudia Mawson.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos scored a 51-goal victory at home in last Saturday’s match against Maryborough.
Players to watch for the Kangaroos include Milly Wicks in what will be 151st game.
The Roos also have Ingrid Hopkins and Ava Lowndes in top form.
Sandhurst will be aiming to chalk up win 13 when it plays Strathfieldsaye at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst won its latest hit-out at Golden Square’s Fur Life Oval by 68 goals.
The maroon and blue beat Strathfieldsaye, 53-23 at Triple M Park in round four.
Strathfieldsaye is on the rebound from a 12-goal loss to Castlemaine.
A tough fortnight for the Steph Freemantle-coached Storm which plays two teams in the top four in consecutive weeks.
Having climbed back to the fifth rung, South Bendigo will be determined to stay there.
The Jannelle Hobbs-coached Bloods are home at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval in Neale Street to play Golden Square.
South Bendigo passed the 80-goal mark on the Bulldogs’ court in round four.
The Benita Swatton-coached Golden Square will be doing it all can to limit South’s scoring chances.
Maryborough is at home at Princes Park to take on Kyneton.
Both teams are on the rebound from defeat.
The Dianne Guest-Oakley coached Kyneton will start favourite to take the points.
Kyneton won the round four match against the Jordan Macilwain-coached Magpies by 21 goals.
The Magpies will also be in action at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve against Eaglehawk.
Jointly coached by Fiona Fowler and Gary Cooke, Castlemaine has sights set on regaining a top-three berth.
A win for Castlemaine and a loss for Kangaroo Flat will mean a switch in ladder positions.
The Kylie Piercy-coached Eaglehawk has kept on improving.
A high for the Hawks was the win against South Bendigo, but the trip to Castlemaine will be a big test for the Two Blues.
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.