BY NATHAN DOLE
Kangaroos claim Wirama Shield against Magpies
KANGAROO Flat outplayed Castlemaine in the A-grade netball match to claim the Wirama Shield as the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL marked Indigenous Round on Saturday.
The Roos and Magpies contested the round’s feature match on Kangaroo Flat’s court at Dower Park.
An 86-33 victory was a fifth win of the season for the ladder-leading Kangaroos who are coached by Jayden Cowling.
It’s been a tough run for the Chloe Hughes-coached Castlemaine which has not won since the second round against South Bendigo at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval.
Reigning premier Gisborne won a hard-fought match on its court at Gardiner Reserve against Strathfieldsaye Storm.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne led 11-10 at quarter-time and 21-17 by the long break.
In the third the team in red, white and blue took control as it scored 11 goals and kept Storm to a tally of six.
Gisborne went on to claim a 40-29 victory against the Steph Freemantle-coached Storm.
A red-hot Sandhurst starred in the cool conditions at Queen Elizabeth Oval against Eaglehawk.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst raced to a 19-8 lead by quarter-time.
Term two was the Dragons most dominant of the match as they poured in 23 goals and held the Two Blues to a score of eight.
By the long break the maroon and blue led 42-24.
The Dragons led 58-24 going into the final term.
An Eaglehawk team coached by Kylie Piercy scored a match-high 12 goals in the last as Sandhurst netted a 75-36 victory.
It was a bye for Golden Square in A-grade, but the blue and gold did play Maryborough on the Princes Park courts in the lower grades.
South Bendigo had a bye.
Standings in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Kangaroo Flat 219 per cent, 20 points; Gisborne 158 20; Sandhurst 187, 16; Strathfieldsaye 105, 12; Eaglehawk 66, 8; Castlemaine 66, 4; Golden Square 56, 4; South Bendigo 54, 4.
A highlight of King’s Birthday holiday weekend will be Saturday’s round eight match between Strathfieldsaye and Sandhurst at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
Castlemaine will be on its court at Camp Reserve against Gisborne.
Golden Square takes on South Bendigo at Fur Life Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.
It’s a rest for the A-grade team from Eaglehawk, but the Borough’s teams will be on their courts at Canterbury Park to play Maryborough in the lower grades.
Kangaroo Flat has the bye.
Round seven scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Kangaroo Flat 67 d Castlemaine 27, Gisborne 53 d Strathfieldsaye 38, Sandhurst 57 d Eaglehawk 36, Maryborough 45 d Golden Square 33, South Bendigo bye.
B-grade:
Kangaroo Flat 60 d Castlemaine 17, Gisborne 63 d Strathfieldsaye 38, Sandhurst 57 d Eaglehawk 27, Maryborough 34 lt Golden Square 49, South Bendigo bye.
B-reserve:
Kangaroo Flat 56 d Castlemaine 38, Gisborne 55 d Strathfieldsaye 34, Sandhurst 68 d Eaglehawk 31, Maryborough 33 lt Golden Square 44, South Bendigo bye.
17-and-under:
Kangaroo Flat 25 lt Castlemaine 57, Gisborne 47 d Strathfieldsaye 31, Sandhurst 68 d Eaglehawk 17, Maryborough 35 lt Golden Square 44, South Bendigo bye.
League ladders
A-reserve:
Gisborne 201 per cent, 24 points; Strathfieldsaye 136, 20; Kangaroo Flat 119, 18; Maryborough 105, 18; Sandhurst 130, 16; Castlemaine 79, 8; South Bendigo 72, 4; Eaglehawk 66, 4; Golden Square 60, 0.
B-grade:
Gisborne 205 per cent, 24 points; Kangaroo Flat 149, 24; Sandhurst 174, 20; Strathfieldsaye 115, 16; South Bendigo 87, 8; Eaglehawk 74, 8; Castlemaine 70, 8; Golden Square 66, 4; Maryborough 43, 0.
B-reserve:
Sandhurst 230 per cent, 24 points; Gisborne 186, 20; Strathfieldsaye 126, 20; Kangaroo Flat 134, 16; South Bendigo 114, 12; Eaglehawk 97, 8; Golden Square 66, 8; Castlemaine 60, 4; Maryborough 34, 0.
17-and-under:
Sandhurst 244 per cent, 24 points; Golden Square 156, 24; Maryborough 99, 16; Strathfieldsaye 123, 12; Castlemaine 109, 12; Gisborne 97, 12; South Bendigo 93, 8; Eaglehawk 43, 4; Kangaroo Flat 41, 0.