BY NATHAN DOLE
Golden Square nets long-awaited victory
GOLDEN Square marked its first A-grade netball victory in more than two seasons in Saturday’s third round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
The Chris O’Sullivan-coached Golden Square fought from six goals down at half-time of the match on Castlemaine’s court at Camp Reserve to lead by three goals going into the final term.
A match-high tally of 16 goals by the blue and gold in the third was followed by winning the last, 10-9, against the Chloe Hughes-coached Magpies.
At the final whistle Golden Square led 40-36.
It was a stunning performance by the Bulldogs who had endured a run of 39 consecutive defeats.
Strathfieldsaye Storm moved to the top of the ladder following a six-goal win against Eaglehawk.
The Steph Freemantle-coached Storm was down by margins of one, one and two goals across the quarter-time breaks.
In the last it was Strathfieldsaye which took control against the Kylie Piercy-coached Eaglehawk to win the term, 10-2, and the match, 33-27.
Kangaroo Flat jumped away to a 20-goal lead by quarter-time of its match against South Bendigo on the Roos’ court at Dower Park.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos led 24-4 by the first break.
Quarter two was more evenly fought as the Roos added 11 goals and the Alicia McGlashan-coached Bloods scored eight.
Kangaroo Flat won the next two terms, 14-6 and 11-9 as it ran out 60-27 victors.
It was a rest for Gisborne as Maryborough is not fielding an A-grade team.
The Bulldogs and Magpies contested the lower grades at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
Sandhurst had the bye.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Strathfieldsaye 124 per cent, 8 points; Kangaroo Flat 135, 4; Castlemaine 114, 4; Gisborne 110, 4; Eaglehawk 107, 4; Sandhurst 103, 4; Golden Square 80, 4; South Bendigo 66, 4.
In next Saturday’s fourth round, South Bendigo is home at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington to take on Gisborne.
Eaglehawk and Castlemaine meet in the feature match of Pat Cronin Foundation Round.
Golden Square is home on the Wade Street court to face Kangaroo Flat.
It’s a bye for Sandhurst in A-grade, but the Dragons will make their way to Maryborough’s Princes Park to play the Magpies in all other grades.
Strathfieldsaye has the bye.
Round three scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Castlemaine 55 d Golden Square 37, Strathfieldsaye 59 d Eaglehawk 39, Kangaroo Flat 55 d South Bendigo 40, Gisborne 54 d Maryborough 31, Sandhurst bye.
B-grade:
Castlemaine 33 d Golden Square 29, Strathfieldsaye 51 d Eaglehawk 40, Kangaroo Flat 46 d South Bendigo 33, Gisborne 70 d Maryborough 15, Sandhurst bye.
B-reserve:
Castlemaine 37 lt Golden Square 66, Strathfieldsaye 53 d Eaglehawk 36, Kangaroo Flat 30 lt South Bendigo 37, Gisborne 94 d Maryborough 18, Sandhurst bye.
17-and-under:
Castlemaine 45 lt Golden Square 56, Strathfieldsaye 61 d Eaglehawk 24, Kangaroo Flat 25 lt South Bendigo 38, Gisborne 40 lt Maryborough 46, Sandhurst bye.
League ladders:
A-reserve:
Strathfieldsaye 148 per cent, 12 points; Gisborne 139, 8; Kangaroo Flat 108, 6; Maryborough 96, 6; Castlemaine 98, 4; Sandhurst 97, 4; Eaglehawk 86, 4; South Bendigo 80, 4; Golden Square 72, 0.
B-grade:
Strathfieldsaye 132 per cent, 12 points; Gisborne 200, 8; Kangaroo Flat 136, 8; Castlemaine 102, 8; Sandhurst 101, 4; Eaglehawk 94, 4; South Bendigo 85, 4; Golden Square 80, 8; Maryborough 40, 0.
B-reserve:
Strathfieldsaye 129 per cent, 12 points; South Bendigo 145, 8; Sandhurst 136, 8; Gisborne 201, 4; Kangaroo Flat 150, 4; Eaglehawk 126, 4; Golden Square 89, 4; Castlemaine 60, 4; Maryborough 33, 0.
17-and-under:
Golden Square 172 per cent, 12 points; Maryborough 136, 12; Sandhurst 221, 8; South Bendigo 133, 8; Strathfieldsaye 132, 8; Castlemaine 76, 0; Gisborne 68, 0; Kangaroo Flat 43, 0; Eaglehawk 29, 0.