BY NATHAN DOLE
CASTLEMAINE outpointed Kangaroo Flat across the final three quarters to mark a 16-goal victory in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL’s A-grade netball match on Saturday.
A full-strength Castlemaine was down by three goals at quarter-time after the Kangaroos made a strong start on the Magpies’ court at Camp Reserve.
After the first break it was the Magpies who lifted their defensive intensity and run through the mid-court.
Castlemaine went from 8-11 at the first break to hold a 24-20 lead by half-time.
A high-scoring third term also went in the Magpies’ favour, 14-10.
In the last it was the team in black and white which kept peppering the attacking third.
The Magpies scored 17 goals and held the Flat to just nine in the final quarter to seal a 55-39 victory.
Castlemaine co-coach Fiona Fowler teamed with Shaid Sasalu to shut down many of the Kangaroos’ attacking moves.
A Magpies’ line-up jointly coached by Fiona Fowler and Gary Cooke surged clear to claim a 55-39 victory against last season’s runner-up.
Castlemaine moved to the second rung of the ladder going into next weekend’s general bye as the Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos slipped to fifth place.
In other A-grade matches, South Bendigo met Sandhurst on Graeme Wright Memorial Cup day at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst made a brilliant start to lead 17-5 at quarter-time.
Although the Bloods tried they could not match the hot Dragons in terms of pressure and ability to force or capitalise on turnovers.
Sandhurst led 34-9 at half-time and won the next two terms, 14-4 and 14-9, against the Jannelle Hobbs-coached Bloods.
At the final whistle the Dragons led 62-22.
Gisborne won every quarter on its way to a 54-26 win against Kyneton at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne led 17-6 at quarter-time and 28-15 by the main break.
It was a tough afternoon for the Dianne Guest-Oakley coached Tigers as Gisborne won this contest by 28 goals.
Closest result of the afternoon was at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane where the Steph Freemantle-coached Storm faced Eaglehawk.
Strathfieldsaye led 11-8 at quarter-time and won the second term, 11-8.
In the crucial third quarter, Storm added 15 goals and kept the Hawks to a tally of 10.
The Kylie Piercy-coached Hawks matched Storm’s tally of nine goals in the final term as Strathfieldsaye marked a 46-35 victory.
It was a high-scoring contest at Maryborough’s Princes Park where the Magpies took on Golden Square.
The Jordan Macilwain-coached Maryborough led 18-15 at quarter-time and 35-29 by the long break.
The Magpies scored 18 goals in the third and 20 in the last to the 73-goal mark.
A return of 53 goals by the Benita Swatton-coached Golden Square was well above its best this season.
Previous scores for the blue and gold had been 23, 29, 21, and 28.
Bendigo FNL’s A-grade netball ladder:
Sandhurst 217 per cent, 20 points; Gisborne 152, 16; Castlemaine 125, 16; South Bendigo 119, 12; Kangaroo Flat 118, 12; Kyneton 104, 8; Strathfieldsaye 94, 8; Maryborough 85, 8; Eaglehawk 62, 0; Golden Square 40, 0.
The Bendigo FNL has a general bye on May 20.
The season resumes on May 27.
Golden Square is at home at Fur Life Oval in Wade Street to face Gisborne in the round six contest.
South Bendigo versus Strathfieldsaye at Harry Trott Oval in Neale Street, Kennington.
Kangaroo Flat plays Eaglehawk on the Roos’ court at Dower Park.
Kyneton faces Castlemaine at Kyneton Showgrounds.
Sandhurst takes on Maryborough at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Round five scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Castlemaine 37 lt Kangaroo Flat 40, South Bendigo 26 lt Sandhurst 45, Gisborne 82 d Kyneton 22, Strathfieldsaye 51 d Eaglehawk 33, Golden Square bye.
B-grade:
Castlemaine 20 lt Kangaroo Flat 64, South Bendigo 32 lt Sandhurst 46, Gisborne 71 d Kyneton 37, Strathfieldsaye 33 d Eaglehawk 21, Maryborough 22 lt Golden Square 52.
B-reserve:
Castlemaine 20 lt Kangaroo Flat 61, South Bendigo 29 lt Sandhurst 62, Gisborne 63 d Kyneton 18, Maryborough 32 lt Golden Square 43, Strathfieldsaye 33 dr Eaglehawk 33.
17-and-under:
Castlemaine 35 dr Kangaroo Flat 35, South Bendigo 18 lt Sandhurst 63, Gisborne 92 d Kyneton 9, Strathfieldsaye 42 d Eaglehawk 33, Maryborough 37 lt Golden Square 50.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL netball competitions after five rounds:
A-reserve:
Gisborne 238 per cent, 20 points; Sandhurst 198, 20; South Bendigo 117, 16; Castlemaine 86, 8; Kangaroo Flat 81, 8; Strathfieldsaye 79, 8; Eaglehawk 66, 8; Kyneton 57, 8; Golden Square 64, 4.
B-grade:
Sandhurst 181 per cent, 20 points; Gisborne 163, 16; Kangaroo Flat 139, 16; Strathfieldsaye 101, 12; South Bendigo 100, 12; Golden Square 97, 8; Eaglehawk 78, 8; Kyneton 74, 4; Castlemaine 63, 2; Maryborough 57, 2.
B-reserve:
Sandhurst 221 per cent, 20 points; Kangaroo Flat 185, 16; Gisborne 153, 16; Eaglehawk 119, 14; Strathfieldsaye 134, 10; South Bendigo 101, 8; Golden Square 72, 8; Castlemaine 52, 4; Kyneton 41, 4; Maryborough 48, 0.
17-and-under:
Gisborne 230 per cent, 20 points; Sandhurst 207, 20; Golden Square 188, 16; Maryborough 145, 16; Strathfieldsaye 84, 8; Kangaroo Flat 100, 6; Castlemaine 82, 6; Eaglehawk 72, 4; South Bendigo 50, 4; Kyneton 19, 0.