BY NATHAN DOLE
Storm surges to big win on Castlemaine’s court
STRATHFIELDSAYE marked an impressive victory on Castlemaine’s court at Camp Reserve in Saturday’s fifth round of A-grade netball action in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
The Steph Freemantle-coached Storm surged to a 64-36 victory against the Magpies.
Now on a three-one record, Strathfieldsaye is third on the ladder.
It was a disappointing result for the Chloe Hughes-coached Castlemaine which now has a two-week break in the split sixth round.
Next hit-out for the Magpies will be on June 1 on Kangaroo Flat’s court at Dower Park.
Results in all other A-grade matches went as expected in round five.
Back on court after an extended break, Sandhurst dominated against South Bendigo at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst raced to a 29-7 lead by half-time.
Pressure from the maroon and blue did not ease up as it won the third term, 18-2.
By the final siren Sandhurst led 64-14 against the Alicia McGlashan-coached South Bendigo.
At Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park it was Kangaroo Flat which outplayed the Two Blues.
Kangaroo Flat jumped away to a 17-4 lead by quarter-time and was up, 32-7 by the main break.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Roos slammed on 22 goals in the third as the defence held the Hawks to a tally of two.
By the final siren Kangaroo Flat led 76-15.
The Roos make their way to Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane to face Storm next Saturday.
An Eaglehawk team coached by Kylie Piercy faces another tough hit-out against at Gisborne in the sixth round.
Reigning premier Gisborne was on its court at Gardiner Reserve against Golden Square.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne led 16-6 at quarter-time and 31-16 by the main break.
Best quarter for the Chris O’Sullivan-coached Golden Square was third where it poured in 10 goals and held the red, white and blue to a tally of 13.
Gisborne went on to mark a 58-31 victory against the blue and gold which is a lot more competitive this season.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Kangaroo Flat 215 per cent, 12 points; Gisborne 151, 12; Strathfieldsaye 138, 12; Sandhurst 155, 8; Eaglehawk 80, 8; Castlemaine 78, 4; Golden Square 61, 4; South Bendigo 54, 4.
The split sixth round starts next Saturday.
Eaglehawk is home at Canterbury Park to face Gisborne.
Strathfieldsaye plays Kangaroo Flat on Storm’s court at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
It’s a rest for South Bendigo in A-grade, but the Bloods will play Maryborough in the lower grades at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval in Neale Street.
Castlemaine has the bye.
The round will be completed on May 25 when Golden Square and Sandhurst clash for the Ron Best Memorial Cup at the Bulldogs’ kennel in Wade Street.
Round five scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Sandhurst 60 d South Bendigo 39, Kangaroo Flat 62 d Eaglehawk 38, Gisborne 70 d Golden Square 22, Castlemaine 38 lt Strathfieldsaye 61, Maryborough bye.
B-grade:
Sandhurst 60 d South Bendigo 38, Kangaroo Flat 51 d Eaglehawk 34, Gisborne 75 d Golden Square 27, Castlemaine 29 lt Strathfieldsaye 56, Maryborough bye.
B-reserve:
Sandhurst 66 d South Bendigo 36, Kangaroo Flat 42 d Eaglehawk 36, Gisborne 65 d Golden Square 29, Castlemaine 42 lt Strathfieldsaye 72, Maryborough bye.
17-and-under:
Sandhurst 47 d South Bendigo 21, Kangaroo Flat 32 lt Eaglehawk 34, Gisborne 37 lt Golden Square 56, Castlemaine 54 d Strathfieldsaye 47, Maryborough bye.
League ladders:
A-reserve:
Gisborne 197 per cent, 16 points; Strathfieldsaye 151, 16; Kangaroo Flat 121, 14; Maryborough 100, 10; Castlemaine 90, 8; Sandhurst 107, 6; South Bendigo 67, 6; Eaglehawk 81, 4; Golden Square 63, 0.
B-grade:
Gisborne 218 per cent, 16 points; Strathfieldsaye 144, 16; Kangaroo Flat 140, 16; Sandhurst 146, 12; Eaglehawk 93, 8; Castlemaine 83, 8; South Bendigo 71, 4; Golden Square 65, 0; Maryborough 38, 0.
B-reserve:
Sandhurst 213 per cent, 16 points; Strathfieldsaye 140, 16; Gisborne 205, 12; Kangaroo Flat 157, 12; Eaglehawk 128, 8; South Bendigo 94, 8; Golden Square 67, 4; Castlemaine 59, 4; Maryborough 28, 0.
17-and-under:
Golden Square 201 per cent, 20 points; Sandhurst 240, 16; Maryborough 95, 12; Strathfieldsaye 116, 8; South Bendigo 99, 8; Castlemaine 97, 8; Gisborne 76, 4; Eaglehawk 45, 4; Kangaroo Flat 42, 0.