BY NATHAN DOLE
LOCKED on 26 points, Strathfieldsaye and South Bendigo meet in Saturday’s match of the day in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL’s A-grade netball action.
Storm has home-court advantage at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane as sixth takes on fifth in the 15th round.
When these teams met in round six scores were 53-all at the final whistle at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
Saturday’s duel will go a long way to determining whether the Bloods or Storm will feature in the finals action.
The Jannelle Hobbs-coached South Bendigo goes into the round leading Storm by 14 per cent.
The Bloods are on the rebound from a 49-goal loss to Sandhurst.
In the run home South Bendigo takes on Maryborough at Harry Trott Oval, but is then against two of the competition’s best in Gisborne, away, and Castlemaine, home.
The Steph Freemantle-coached Strathfieldsaye scored a 44-40 win in last Saturday’s match on Eaglehawk’s court at Canterbury Park.
After facing the Bloods, Storm will play at Kangaroo Flat, take on Maryborough at Triple M Park, and then head to Kyneton.
The Castlemaine Magpies are back on their court at Camp Reserve to play the Kyneton Tigers.
A 23-goal loss at Kangaroo Flat last round meant the Fiona Fowler and Gary Cooke-coached Magpies dropped to the fourth rung.
The round six match between Kyneton and Castlemaine was abandoned.
Big task for the Magpies to reclaim third place and the double chance as the run to the finals will be matches against Golden Square, away; Sandhurst, home; and South Bendigo, away.
A win for the Dianne Guest-Oakley coached Kyneton at Castlemaine will keep the yellow and black in finals contention.
The Tigers were beaten in last Saturday’s home clash with Gisborne by 26 goals.
Kyneton’s run to end the home and away series involves a home game against Eaglehawk, a trek to Kangaroo Flat, and home against Strathfieldsaye.
The Kylie Piercy-coached Eaglehawk is back on its court this Saturday to play Kangaroo Flat.
Huge challenge for the Two Blues against the Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos who dominated their latest hit-out against Castlemaine.
In round six the Roos charged to a 50-goal win against the Hawks.
Maryborough is at Princes Park to take on the unbeaten Sandhurst.
The Jordan Macilwain-coached Magpies marked their third win of the season last Saturday after a hard-fought 49-40 victory at Golden Square.
Huge test to try and maintain a high level of pressure against the slick-moving Sandhurst across four quarters.
It’s a formidable Sandhurst line-up which is coached by Tamara Gilchrist.
Gisborne is back home at Gardiner Reserve to take on Golden Square.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne scored 90 goals at Golden Square in round six and on form could do so again.
Been a tough season for a young Golden Square line-up which is coached by Benita Swatton.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Sandhurst 219 per cent, 56 points; Gisborne 177, 48; Kangaroo Flat 161, 40; Castlemaine 121, 38; South Bendigo 107, 26; Strathfieldsaye 93, 26; Kyneton 92, 22; Eaglehawk 74, 12; Maryborough 58, 12; Golden Square 36, 0.