BY NATHAN DOLE
Top three contenders dominate contests
THE top three contenders for this season’s A-grade netball premiership dominated across the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL’s round 15 action on Saturday.
Reigning premier, Gisborne played brilliant netball to hold Eaglehawk to a tally of four goals at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne led 16-6 at quarter-time and 32-9 by half-time.
After the long break the charge by the red, white and blue did not let up.
Gisborne won the third term, 14-2, and then scored 21 goals as it kept the Two Blues to a score of two goals in the final term.
At the final whistle Gisborne led 67-13 against the Kylie Piercy-coached Eaglehawk.
Kangaroo Flat’s slick mid-court and strong attack was in superb touch against Strathfieldsaye at Dower Park.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos dominated play on their court to record a 63-26 victory.
Was a tough hit-out for the Steph Freemantle-coached Strathfieldsaye which is in fourth place ahead of next Saturday’s home game against Gisborne at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
More than 100 goals were scored as Sandhurst took on Golden Square at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst won 66-39 against the Teigan Redwood-coached Golden Square team.
It was a rest for South Bendigo in A-grade, but the Bloods made their way across to Maryborough’s Princes Park to play the Magpies in the lower grades.
Castlemaine had the bye.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Kangaroo Flat 198 per cent, 40 points.; Gisborne 183 per cent, 40 points; Sandhurst 175, 36; Strathfieldsaye 95, 24; Eaglehawk 74, 24; Golden Square 63, 12; South Bendigo 66, 8; Castlemaine 55, 4.
In next Saturday’s round 16 action, Strathfieldsaye takes on Gisborne at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
Eaglehawk and Sandhurst clash in the Borough at Canterbury Park.
Castlemaine faces Kangaroo Flat in the Magpies’ nest at Camp Reserve.
It’s a rest for Golden Square in A-grade, but the blue and gold will play Maryborough in the lower grades at Fur Life Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.
South Bendigo has the bye.
Round 15 scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Gisborne 74 d Eaglehawk 32, Kangaroo Flat 54 d Strathfieldsaye 47, Sandhurst 59 d Golden Square 26, Maryborough 46 d South Bendigo 36, Castlemaine had the bye.
B-grade:
Gisborne 74 d Eaglehawk 36, Kangaroo Flat 56 d Strathfieldsaye 39, Sandhurst 51 d Golden Square 25, Maryborough 22 lt South Bendigo 58, Castlemaine had the bye.
B-reserve:
Gisborne 53 d Eaglehawk 41, Kangaroo Flat 42 d Strathfieldsaye 40, Sandhurst 71 d Golden Square 24, Maryborough 29 lt South Bendigo 74, Castlemaine had the bye.
17-and-under:
Gisborne 68 d Eaglehawk 31, Kangaroo Flat 25 lt Strathfieldsaye 63, Sandhurst 47 lt Golden Square 49, Maryborough 51 d South Bendigo 33, Castlemaine had the bye.
League ladders:
A-reserve:
Gisborne 226 per cent, 52 points; Strathfieldsaye 134, 40; Kangaroo Flat 125, 38; Sandhurst 130, 36; Maryborough 99, 34; South Bendigo 74, 16; Castlemaine 71, 12; Eaglehawk 67, 8; Golden Square 57, 4.
B-grade:
Gisborne 190 per cent, 48 points; Kangaroo Flat 146, 48; Sandhurst 162, 44; Strathfieldsaye 116, 36; South Bendigo 89, 22; Castlemaine 82, 20; Eaglehawk 78, 14; Golden Square 70, 8; Maryborough 41, 0.
B-reserve:
Sandhurst 230 per cent, 52 points; Gisborne 188, 44; Strathfieldsaye 134, 40; Kangaroo Flat 125, 36; South Bendigo 118, 28; Eaglehawk 102, 20; Golden Square 63, 12; Castlemaine 56, 8; Maryborough 32, 0.
17-and-under:
Sandhurst
Golden Square 160 per cent, 52 points; Sandhurst 225, 48; Maryborough 109, 40; Strathfieldsaye 108, 24; Gisborne 105, 24; Castlemaine 99, 20; South Bendigo 81, 20; Eaglehawk 50, 12; Kangaroo Flat 40, 0.