BY NATHAN DOLE
Square fights on for victory
GOLDEN Square fought on for a two-goal victory in its final game of the season in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL’S A-grade netball action on Saturday.
The Bulldogs took on South Bendigo on the Bloods’ court at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
South Bendigo led 12-10 at quarter-time and 22-21 by the long break.
In the third quarter it was the Teigan Redwood-coached Golden Square which lifted to win the term, 11-10.
Scores were 32-all going into the final quarter.
The blue and gold withstood a spirited challenge from the Alicia McGlashan-coached South Bendigo to mark a 42-40 victory.
It was Golden Square’s fourth win of the season.
At Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve it was a special occasion for A-grade coach Tarryn Rymer and mid-court ace Tiana Newman as both marked their 300th matches for the club.
The reigning premier showed it’s on track to be a strong challenger again.
Gisborne led 21-3 at quarter-time and 46-5 by half-time.
The Chloe Hughes-coached Castlemaine kept working hard, but it was a ruthless Gisborne which won the third term, 36-6.
Although it held a 71-goal lead by the last change, Gisborne’s intensity at the contest did not let up.
The red, white and blue won the last, 24-1, on the way to a 106-12 victory.
Sandhurst won all four quarters on its way to a 55-goal victory against Strathfieldsaye at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst led 20-5 at quarter-time and 41-13 by the long break.
The maroon and blue surged clear of Storm to claim an 81-26 victory against the Steph Freemantle-coached Strathfieldsaye team.
It was a rest for the Kylie Piercy-coached Eaglehawk in A-grade, but the Hawks played Maryborough in all other grades on the Magpies’ court at Princes Park.
Kangaroo Flat had the bye.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Gisborne 210 per cent, 48 points; Kangaroo Flat 218, 44; Sandhurst 188, 44; Strathfieldsaye 81, 24; Eaglehawk 70, 24; Golden Square 65, 16; South Bendigo 68, 8; Castlemaine 45, 4.
Top spot is up for grabs next Saturday when Kangaroo Flat takes on Gisborne on the Kangaroos’ court at Dower Park.
Eaglehawk faces South Bendigo on the Borough’s court in Canterbury Park.
Castlemaine will be home at Camp Reserve to play Sandhurst.
It’s a rest for Strathfieldsaye in A-grade, but Storm takes on Maryborough in all other grades at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
Golden Square has the bye.
Round 17 scoreboard:
A-reserve:
South Bendigo 51 d Golden Square 48, Gisborne 72 d Castlemaine 19, Sandhurst 44 lt Strathfieldsaye 45, Maryborough 51 d Eaglehawk 37, Kangaroo Flat bye.
B-grade:
South Bendigo 45 d Golden Square 27, Gisborne 82 d Castlemaine 23, Sandhurst 58 d Strathfieldsaye 32, Maryborough 26 lt Eaglehawk 54, Kangaroo Flat bye.
B-reserve:
South Bendigo 43 d Golden Square 29, Gisborne 71 d Castlemaine 30, Sandhurst 45 d Strathfieldsaye 35, Maryborough 15 lt Eaglehawk 58, Kangaroo Flat bye.
17-and-under:
South Bendigo 20 lt Golden Square 69, Gisborne 37 dr Castlemaine 37, Sandhurst 51 d Strathfieldsaye 36, Maryborough 48 d Eaglehawk 30, Kangaroo Flat bye.
League ladders:
A-reserve:
Gisborne 224 per cent, 60 points; Strathfieldsaye 124, 44; Kangaroo Flat 129, 42; Sandhurst 135, 40; Maryborough 100, 38; South Bendigo 76, 20; Castlemaine 65, 12; Eaglehawk 64, 8; Golden Square 63, 8.
B-grade:
Gisborne 197 per cent, 56 points; Sandhurst 162, 52; Kangaroo Flat 145, 52; Strathfieldsaye 106, 36; South Bendigo 92, 26; Castlemaine 75, 20; Eaglehawk 82, 18; Golden Square 74, 12; Maryborough 43, 0.
B-reserve:
Sandhurst 217 per cent, 60 points; Gisborne 182, 52; Kangaroo Flat 129,40; Strathfieldsaye 127, 40; South Bendigo 119, 32; Eaglehawk 105, 24; Golden Square 67, 16; Castlemaine 54, 8; Maryborough 34, 0.
17-and-under:
Golden Square 168 per cent, 60 points; Sandhurst 224, 56; Maryborough 106, 44; Strathfieldsaye 106, 28; Castlemaine 104, 26; Gisborne 103, 26; South Bendigo 75, 20; Eaglehawk 49, 12; Kangaroo Flat 41, 0.