BY NATHAN DOLE
IT’S almost a year since Sandhurst was beaten in A-grade netball action in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
Unbeaten in its quest for a fifth consecutive premiership, Sandhurst returns to the venue of its last defeat this Saturday.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst team makes the trek south to Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
The Dragons and Magpies will hold match of the day status in the league’s 17th round.
On August 20 in 2022 it was Castlemaine which celebrated a 47-46 victory against Sandhurst.
The Magpies went on to make their way to a first semi-final in their return to the league’s top division.
Stung by the loss at Castlemaine, Sandhurst fired up to win its next three finals by margins of 15, 39 and 15 goals to claim the premiership cup.
Castlemaine goes into Saturday’s clash with the league leaders following a 22-goal win on Golden Square’s court at Fur Life Oval in Wade Street.
Massive test for the Fiona Fowler and Gary Cooke-coached Castlemaine to force turnovers on the Dragons’ mid-court and defence and to capitalise.
When these teams met on the King’s Birthday holiday weekend it was Sandhurst which claimed a 21-goal victory.
The Dragons surged to a 10-goal lead by half-time and had the answers to a Magpies’ fightback in a 55-34 result.
Sandhurst won last Saturday’s clash with Gisborne at Queen Elizabeth Oval by 16 goals.
A red-hot Kangaroo Flat is on its court at Dower Park to play Kyneton.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos were in top form last round as they beat Strathfieldsaye by 24 goals.
In round eight the Kangaroos dominated the second and third quarters on Kyneton’s court to claim a 38-goal win against the yellow and black.
Huge challenge for the Dianne Guest-Oakley coached Kyneton as it tries to rebound from last Saturday’s loss at home to Eaglehawk.
For the Hawks consecutive victories are a target as they take to their court at Canterbury Park to play Golden Square.
The Kylie Piercy-coached Eaglehawk won the round eight match at Golden Square by 28 goals.
A young Golden Square team coached by Benita Swatton made a great start to last Saturday’s match against Castlemaine, but the Pies gradually took control.
Gisborne is back on its court at Gardiner Reserve to take on South Bendigo.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne beat the Bloods by 32 goals in the eighth round at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval in Neale Street.
The Jannelle Hobbs-coached South Bendigo will be determined to put in a much stronger performance this round.
In the latest round, South Bendigo dominated play on its court in Kennington to beat Maryborough by 35 goals.
Strathfieldsaye faces Maryborough this Saturday on Storm’s court at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
Both teams are on the rebound from defeat.
The Steph Freemantle-coached Strathfieldsaye won at Maryborough’s Princes Park in round eight by 30 goals.
A Magpies’ line-up coached by Jordan Macilwain will be keen for the margin to be much closer this time, if not an upset victory in Storm territory.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Sandhurst 218 per cent, 64 points; Gisborne 175, 52; Kangaroo Flat 165, 48; Castlemaine 123, 46; South Bendigo 113, 34; Strathfieldsaye 91, 26; Kyneton 91, 22; Eaglehawk 73, 16; Maryborough 56, 12; Golden Square 36, 0.