BY NATHAN DOLE
Hawks, Storm take on ladder leaders
EAGLEHAWK and Strathfieldsaye face huge challenges in this Saturday’s start to the split sixth round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League season.
The Hawks will be on their court at Canterbury Park to take on Gisborne from 2.30pm.
Massive test for the Kylie Piercy-coached Two Blues as they strive to bounce back from a 61-goal loss at Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park last round.
A two-two record has Eaglehawk in fifth place in the premiership race.
Most recent home game for the Borough ended in a 54-33 win against Castlemain in the Pat Cronin Foundation match on May 4.
Gisborne’s quest for back-to-back premierships is rolling along superbly.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne has won all three matches.
A great run for the red, white and blue began with a 42-38 victory against Sandhurst in the rematch of the ’23 grand finalists in round two.
After a bye, Gisborne won on South Bendigo’s court at Harry Trott Oval by 24 goals and then beat Golden Square by 27 goals at Gardiner Reserve last Saturday.
The Steph Freemantle-coached Strathfieldsaye has played great netball to achieve a win-loss tally of three-one and be third on the ladder.
Storm is back on the Triple M Park court in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane to play Kangaroo Flat.
In last Saturday’s action, Strathfieldsaye dominated on Castlemaine’s court at Camp Reserve to record a 64-36 victory.
Since a round one loss to South Bendigo by two goals, Storm has won at Golden Square, 56-36; marked a 33-27 win at home against Eaglehawk; and then outplayed the Magpies.
Beaten by Sandhurst in the opening round, Kangaroo Flat has won its past three matches and jumped to top rung on the ladder.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos were beaten, 46-39, as they opened their season at home in Dower Park.
The Roos have since beaten South Bendigo, 60-27; Golden Square, 90-35; and Eaglehawk, 76-15.
Playing on Storm’s court will be a test, but the Roos will start favourite to stretch their winning streak.
It’s a bye for South Bendigo in A-grade, but the Bloods will play Maryborough in the lower grades at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street.
Castlemaine has the bye.
Round six will be completed on May 25 when Golden Square plays Sandhurst for the Ron Best Memorial Shield at Golden Square’s Wade Street ground.
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.