BY NATHAN DOLE
SCORES were locked on 53-all when the siren sounded to end the A-grade netball match between South Bendigo and Strathfieldsaye in Saturday’s sixth round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
As the Bloods fell behind Kangaroo Flat in pursuit of a top-three finish, Strathfieldsaye moved within a win of the fifth-placed South Bendigo.
The Jannelle Hobbs-coached South Bendigo raced to an eight-goal lead in the first term, but Storm fought back brilliantly.
For the Steph Freemantle-coached Strathfieldsaye it was the team’s best performance of the season and one from which it gained a lot of confidence.
The league’s top three teams were all in top form.
Sandhurst’s unbeaten run kept rolling as it took on Maryborough at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst won 87-27.
Gisborne dominated play on Golden Square’s court at Fur Life Oval in Wade Street.
Second in the premiership race, Gisborne powered to its fifth win of the season.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne won 90-19 in the lead-up to next Saturday’s home game against Sandhurst at Gardiner Reserve.
The third-placed Kangaroo Flat passed the 80-goal mark against Eaglehawk.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos were on the rebound from a loss on Castlemaine’s court and dominated from the first pass at Dower Park.
By the final siren, Kangaroo Flat led 82-32 against the Kylie Piercy-coached Eaglehawk.
There was no play in the Kyneton and Castlemaine match at Kyneton Showgrounds due to the tragic and sudden passing of 17-year-old Dallas Keogh-Frankling.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL’s A-grade netball competition:
Sandhurst 233 per cent, 24 points; Gisborne 187, 20; Kangaroo Flat 137, 16; Castlemaine 125, 16; South Bendigo 115, 14; Strathfieldsaye 95, 10; Kyneton 104, 8; Maryborough 72, 8; Eaglehawk 57, 0; Golden Square 36, 0.
The league marks Indigenous Round next Saturday.
Match of the round will be at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve where the second-placed Bulldogs face the ladder-leading and unbeaten Sandhurst.
Feature match of the day will be at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park where the Hawks play Kyneton.
Maryborough will on its court at Princes Park to play South Bendigo.
Castlemaine hosts Golden Square at Camp Reserve.
Strathfieldsaye Storm is up against Kangaroo Flat at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
Round six scoreboard:
A-reserve:
South Bendigo 41 lt Strathfieldsaye 46, Kangaroo Flat 63 d Eaglehawk 35, Kyneton 32 lt Castlemaine 52, Golden Square 21 lt Gisborne 74, Sandhurst bye.
B-grade:
South Bendigo 42 dr Strathfieldsaye 42, Kangaroo Flat 51 d Eaglehawk 38, Kyneton v Castlemaine no play, Golden Square 38 lt Gisborne 69, Sandhurst 81 d Maryborough 20.
B-reserve:
South Bendigo 36 lt Strathfieldsaye 42, Kangaroo Flat 52 d Eaglehawk 36, Kyneton v Castlemaine no play, Golden Square 19 lt Gisborne 47, Sandhurst 89 d Maryborough 15.
17-and-under:
South Bendigo 24 lt Strathfieldsaye 43, Kangaroo Flat 48 d Eaglehawk 37, Kyneton 14 lt Castlemaine 46, Golden Square 47 lt Gisborne 58, Sandhurst 63 d Maryborough 42.
Ladders after six rounds:
A-reserve:
Gisborne 254 per cent, 24 points; Sandhurst 198, 24; South Bendigo 111, 16; Kangaroo Flat 96, 12; Strathfieldsaye 83, 12; Castlemaine 86, 8; Eaglehawk 63, 8; Kyneton 57, 8; Golden Square 55, 4.
B-grade:
Sandhurst 208 per cent, 24 points; Gisborne 167, 20; Kangaroo Flat 138, 20; Strathfieldsaye 101, 14; South Bendigo 100, 14; Golden Square 86, 8; Eaglehawk 77, 8; Kyneton 74, 4; Castlemaine 63, 2; Maryborough 49, 2.
B-reserve:
Sandhurst 261 per cent, 24 points; Kangaroo Flat 177, 20; Gisborne 162, 20; Eaglehawk 108, 16; Strathfieldsaye 130, 12; South Bendigo 98, 8; Golden Square 65, 8; Castlemaine 52, 4; Kyneton 41, 4; Maryborough 40, 0.
17-and-under:
Gisborne 202 per cent, 24 points; Sandhurst 194, 24; Golden Square 159, 16; Maryborough 122, 16; Strathfieldsaye 93, 12; Kangaroo Flat 104, 10; Castlemaine 98, 10; Eaglehawk 73, 4; South Bendigo 51, 4; Kyneton 20, 0.