BY NATHAN DOLE
Top three mark emphatic wins
THE top three in the A-grade netball premiership race marked emphatic victories in Saturday’s 14th round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
Eaglehawk felt the full brunt of Kangaroo Flat’s slick mid-court and powerful attack.
Although the Kylie Piercy-coached Hawks had home-court advantage at Canterbury Park it was the Kangaroos who dominated play.
A 75-26 victory was one of the best this season by the Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroo Flat.
South Bendigo took on Sandhurst at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval on Graeme Wright Memorial Cup day.
The Alicia McGlashan-coached South Bendigo worked hard to score 30 goals against a well-drilled Sandhurst line-up.
A break for inter-league, bye and then rest because it was scheduled to play Maryborough meant the Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst played for the first time since a loss at Gisborne on June 29.
On Saturday the maroon and blue charged to a 69-30 win against the Bloods.
After it led 14-7 at quarter-time, Sandhurst dominated the second term.
The Dragons fired up to pour in 21 goals as the Bloods were held to just two.
Term three was to be South Bendigo’s best as it scored 10 goals and kept the visitors to 16.
The last quarter went the way of the Dragons, 18-11.
A 42-goal win on its court at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane meant Strathfieldsaye climbed to the fourth rung on the ladder.
The Steph Freemantle-coached Strathfieldsaye Storm surged to a 59-17 win against the Chloe Hughes-coached Castlemaine.
Scores were 12-all at quarter-time before Strathfieldsaye won the second, 16-nil.
Storm’s lead was 28 goals at a quarter to play.
Strathfieldsaye added 17 goals and kept the Magpies to a tally of three in the final term.
Golden Square faced a challenging task against Gisborne.
The Teigan Redwood-coached Golden Square was on its court at Fur Life Oval in Wade Street to take on the reigning premier.
A Gisborne line-up coached by Tarryn Rymer showed it’s a strong contender to claim back-to-back premierships as it scored a 76-17 win against the blue and gold.
Gisborne led 16-3 at quarter-time and 37-8 by the main break.
The pressure of the red, white and blue did not ease up as it won the third term, 18-8.
A 21-1 final term capped another outstanding performance by Gisborne.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Kangaroo Flat 195 per cent, 36 points; Gisborne 168, 36; Sandhurst 175, 32; Strathfieldsaye 103, 24; Eaglehawk 81, 24; Golden Square 64, 12; South Bendigo 66, 8; Castlemaine 55, 4.
In next Saturday’s 15th round, Kangaroo Flat will be home at Dower Park to play Strathfieldsaye.
Sandhurst and Golden Square clash at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
It’s second against fifth as Gisborne hosts Eaglehawk at Gardiner Reserve.
Maryborough will play South Bendigo in the lower grades at Maryborough’s Princes Park, but it’s a rest for the Bloods in A-grade.
Castlemaine has the bye.
Round 14 scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Eaglehawk 30 lt Kangaroo Flat 50, South Bendigo 30 lt Sandhurst 51, Strathfieldsaye 58 d Castlemaine 33, Golden Square 16 lt Gisborne 74, Maryborough bye.
B-grade:
Eaglehawk 35 lt Kangaroo Flat 54, South Bendigo 35 lt Sandhurst 50, Strathfieldsaye 45 d Castlemaine 32, Golden Square 27 lt Gisborne 49, Maryborough bye.
B-reserve:
Eaglehawk 19 lt Kangaroo Flat 36, South Bendigo 24 lt Sandhurst 48, Strathfieldsaye 53 d Castlemaine 27, Golden Square 17 lt Gisborne 66, Maryborough bye.
17-and-under:
Eaglehawk 32 d Kangaroo Flat 23, South Bendigo 21 lt Sandhurst 70, Strathfieldsaye 48 d Castlemaine 26, Golden Square 53 d Gisborne 52, Maryborough bye.
League ladders:
A-reserve:
Gisborne 226 per cent, 48 points; Strathfieldsaye 140, 40; Kangaroo Flat 126, 34; Sandhurst 125, 32; Maryborough 97, 30; South Bendigo 74, 16; Castlemaine 71, 12; Eaglehawk 70, 8; Golden Square 59, 4.
B-grade:
Gisborne 189 per cent, 44 points; Kangaroo Flat 146, 44; Sandhurst 159, 40; Strathfieldsaye 122, 36; Castlemaine 82, 20; South Bendigo 82, 18; Eaglehawk 82, 14; Golden Square 72, 8; Maryborough 41, 0.
B-reserve:
Sandhurst 225 per cent, 48 points; Gisborne 194, 40; Strathfieldsaye 137, 40; Kangaroo Flat 127, 32; South Bendigo 110, 24; Eaglehawk 105, 20; Golden Square 66 ,12; Castlemaine 56, 8; Maryborough 32, 0.
17-and-under:
Sandhurst 246 per cent, 48 points; Golden Square 166 , 48; Maryborough 106, 36; Strathfieldsaye 101, 20; Castlemaine 99, 20; Gisborne 98, 20; South Bendigo 82, 20; Eaglehawk 51, 12; Kangaroo Flat 40, 0.