BY NATHAN DOLE
A BRILLIANT defensive effort by South Bendigo stunned Gisborne in Saturday’s 17th round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
The Bloods marked one of their best victories in several seasons to hold the highly-rated Gisborne to just 28 goals at Gardiner Reserve.
Rarely beaten at home, Gisborne battled to match the Bloods’ intensity after quarter-time.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne led 9-7 at quarter-time, but South seized control to win the second term, 12-6.
Although Gisborne won the third, 8-7, the Jannelle Hobbs-coached South Bendigo held a three-goal buffer going into the last.
Defences were on top in the final term.
The Bloods added just six goals, but more importantly limited the Bulldogs to just five to clinch a 32-28 victory.
Sandhurst’s unbeaten streak kept rolling.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst faced a danger game on Castlemaine’s court at Camp Reserve.
A year ago it was the Magpies who broke the Dragons’ winning streak in a one-goal victory.
This time a fired-up Sandhurst dominated the first term to lead 20-9 at the break.
Castlemaine hit back to win the second term, 15-14.
It was a closely-fought third quarter which went the way of the visitors, 12-11.
The Fiona Fowler and Gary Cooke-coached Castlemaine worked hard to win the final quarter, 13-11, but it was Sandhurst which took the points in a 57-48 result.
Kangaroo Flat was too strong for Kyneton on the Roos’ court at Dower Park.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos jumped away to a seven-goal lead by quarter-time and then led 33-19 by the main break.
Quarter three was to be the Roos’ best as they added 18 goals and held the Dianne Guest-Oakley coached Kyneton to a tally of three.
A 51-22 scoreline at three quartrer-time was 64-30 by the final whistle.
Eaglehawk won every quarter on its way to a 63-35 victory against Golden Square on the Borough’s court at Canterbury Park.
The Hawks led 14-10 at quarter-time and 31-18 by half-time.
The Kylie Piercy-coached Eaglehawk won the third term, 19-9, but the Benita Swatton-coached Golden Square did well to score eight goals in the last and held the Two Blues to a tally of 13.
Strathfieldsaye dominated its match against Maryborough on Storm’s court at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
The Steph Freemantle-coached Storm led 16-4 at quarter-time and 37-13 by the long break.
Strathfieldsaye’s relentless attack kept rolling as it scored 20 goal in the third term and held the Magpies to just nine.
The last went Storm’s way, 14-8 against a young Maryborough line-up coached by Jordan Macilwain.
At the final whistle, Strathfieldsaye led 71-30.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Sandhurst 210 per cent, 68 points; Gisborne 169, 52; Kangaroo Flat 167, 52; Castlemaine 120, 46; South Bendigo 113, 38; Strathfieldsaye 96, 30; Kyneton 87, 22; Eaglehawk 78, 20; Maryborough 55, 12; Golden Square 37, 0.
Highlight of next Saturday’s 18th and final round in the home and away series will be South Bendigo against Castlemaine on the Bloods’ court at Harry Trott Oval in Neale Street, Kennington.
Sandhurst takes on Eaglehawk at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Maryborough and Gisborne meet at Maryborough’s Princes Park.
Golden Square takes on Kangaroo Flat at Fur Life Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.
Kyneton and Strathfieldsaye clash in Tigerland at Kyneton Showgrounds.
Round 17 scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Gisborne 46 d South Bendigo 22, Castlemaine 36 lt Sandhurst 59, Kangaroo Flat 62 d Kyneton 33, Eaglehawk 59 d Golden Square 39, Strathfieldsaye bye.
B-grade:
Gisborne 59 d South Bendigo 29, Castlemaine 31 lt Sandhurst 84, Kangaroo Flat 42 d Kyneton 29, Eaglehawk 36 dr Golden Square 36, Strathfieldsaye 52 d Maryborough 17.
B-reserve:
Gisborne 36 d South Bendigo 29, Castlemaine 12 lt Sandhurst 77, Kangaroo Flat 90 d Kyneton 23, Eaglehawk 36 dr Golden Square 36, Strathfieldsaye 67 d Maryborough 25.
17-and-under:
Gisborne 53 d South Bendigo 9, Castlemaine 26 lt Sandhurst 58, Kangaroo Flat 69 d Kyneton 10, Eaglehawk 24 lt Golden Square 58, Strathfieldsaye 35 lt Maryborough 41.
Ladders after 17 rounds:
A-reserve:
Gisborne 181 per cent, 66 points; Sandhurst 167, 62; Kangaroo Flat 118, 44; South Bendigo 104, 44; Castlemaine 97, 36; Strathfieldsaye 84, 32; Eaglehawk 83, 28; Kyneton 66, 18; Golden Square 55, 10.
B-grade:
Sandhurst 194 per cent, 66 points; Gisborne 164, 58; Kangaroo Flat 133, 52; Strathfieldsaye 105, 38; Eaglehawk 97, 36; South Bendigo 97, 34; Golden Square 91, 30; Kyneton 83, 18; Castlemaine 52, 6; Maryborough 47, 2.
B-reserve:
Sandhurst 245 per cent, 64 points; Kangaroo Flat 193, 64; Gisborne 138, 48; Strathfieldsaye 126, 44; Eaglehawk 117, 38; South Bendigo 103, 28; Golden Square 83, 26; Castlemaine 55, 20; Kyneton 42, 8; Maryborough 41, 0.
17-and-under:
Sandhurst 182 per cent, 64 points; Gisborne 186, 60; Golden Square 154, 52; Maryborough 128, 42; Strathfieldsaye 117, 38; Kangaroo Flat 112, 30; Castlemaine 105, 30; Eaglehawk 72, 16; South Bendigo 44, 8; Kyneton 18, 0.