BY NATHAN DOLE
STRATHFIELDSAYE stayed in touch with the top five on the A-grade netball ladder after a fine win against Kyneton in Saturday’s ninth round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
Storm coach Steph Freemantle rated Strathfieldsaye’s performance the best of the ’23 campaign.
The Strathfieldsaye line-up led 12-6 at quarter-time of the match on its court at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
A closely-fought second term went Storm’s way, 10-9.
The Dianne Guest-Oakley coached Kyneton lifted its play to cut the deficit to just five goals going into the final term.
Strathfieldsaye responded to the challenge to win the term, 14-11, and the match, 46-38.
A win-loss record of 4-4 and a draw means Storm hits the halfway mark in sixth place, level on points with the sixth-placed South Bendigo.
Storm and South Bendigo drew when met in round six on the Bloods’ court at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
Castlemaine bounced back from defeat to score a 13-goal win against South Bendigo on the Magpies’ court at Camp Reserve.
Jointly coached by Fiona Fowler and Gary Cooke, Castlemaine led 11-7 at quarter-time and surged to a seven-goal buffer by the main break after a 10-7 return in the second.
The Magpies went on to win the next two quarters, 12-9 and 11-8 to complete a 44-31 victory.
Top-three teams Sandhurst, Gisborne and Kangaroo Flat all recorded emphatic victories.
Unbeaten in its pursuit of a fifth consecutive A-grade premiership, Sandhurst led 34-14 at half-time of the match at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst went on to claim a 70-30 win.
Gisborne marked a 45-goal win on its court at Gardiner Reserve against Maryborough.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne led 33-11 at half-time and then won the second half, 35-12, for a 68-23 result.
Kangaroo Flat passed the century mark in its home game at Dower Park against Golden Square.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Roos scored 28 goals in the first quarter and 29 in the second to lead 57-11 by half-time.
Kangaroo Flat’s intensity did not drop as it scored 24 goals in term three and 25 in the last for a 106-19 result.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Sandhurst 210 per cent, 36 points; Gisborne 185, 28; Kangaroo Flat 179, 28; Castlemaine 124, 26; South Bendigo 112, 18; Strathfieldsaye 96, 18; Kyneton 90, 14; Maryborough 60, 8; Eaglehawk 66, 4; Golden Square 36, 0.
The second half of the home-and-away series tips off next Saturday.
Match of the day in the 10th round will be Kangaroo Flat against Sandhurst on the Roos’ court at Dower Park.
Strathfieldsaye takes on Gisborne at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
Eaglehawk hosts South Bendigo at Canterbury Park.
Castlemaine takes on Maryborough in the all-Magpies match at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
Kyneton and Golden Square clash at Kyneton Showgrounds.
Round nine scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Strathfieldsaye 40 d Kyneton 34, Castlemaine 33 d South Bendigo 29, Eaglehawk 31 lt Sandhurst 64, Gisborne bye, Kangaroo Flat 53 d Golden Square 32.
B-grade:
Strathfieldsaye 41 d Kyneton 31, Castlemaine 22 lt South Bendigo 59, Eaglehawk 37 lt Sandhurst 66, Gisborne 81 d Maryborough 14, Kangaroo Flat 45 d Golden Square 33.
B-reserve:
Strathfieldsaye 48 d Kyneton 27, Castlemaine 20 lt South Bendigo 38, Eaglehawk 32 lt Sandhurst 51, Gisborne 46 d Maryborough 31, Kangaroo Flat 61 d Golden Square 29.
17-and-under:
Strathfieldsaye 75 d Kyneton 11, Castlemaine 49 d South Bendigo 23, Eaglehawk 19 lt Sandhurst 62, Gisborne 49 d Maryborough 27, Kangaroo Flat 37 lt Golden Square 47.
Ladders after nine rounds:
A-reserve:
Gisborne 223 per cent, 36 points; Sandhurst 177, 32; Kangaroo Flat 125, 24; Castlemaine 96, 20; South Bendigo 94, 20; Strathfieldsaye 80, 20; Eaglehawk 74, 16; Kyneton 61, 8; Golden Square 59, 4.
B-grade:
Sandhurst 201 per cent, 36 points; Kangaroo Flat 140, 32; Gisborne 174, 28; South Bendigo 104, 22; Strathfieldsaye 99, 22; Eaglehawk 82, 16; Golden Square 91, 12; Kyneton 80, 8; Castlemaine 57, 2; Maryborough 48, 2.
B-reserve:
Sandhurst 235 per cent, 36 points; Kangaroo Flat 194, 32; Gisborne 145, 28; Eaglehawk 114, 24; Strathfieldsaye 133, 20; South Bendigo 109, 16; Castlemaine 59, 12; Golden Square 63, 8; Kyneton 43, 4; Maryborough 44, 0.
17-and-under:
Gisborne 193 per cent, 36 points; Sandhurst 179, 32; Golden Square 154, 28; Maryborough 120, 22; Strathfieldsaye 116, 22; Kangaroo Flat 115, 14; Castlemaine 100, 14; Eaglehawk 70, 8; South Bendigo 46, 4; Kyneton 20, 0.