MOUNT Pleasant faces a big test on the netball court when it plays Elmore in Saturday’s 13th round in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
The Blues have home-court advantage at Toolleen as they take on the Bloods.
Both take winning form into Saturday’s clash between the league’s third and fifth-placed teams.
Mount Pleasant won last Saturday’s match against Leitchville Gunbower at Gunbower by 29 goals.
It was a spirited match between Elmore and the Harlowe Huntly Hawks.
At the final siren the Bloods led 44-39.
Earlier in the season Elmore beat the Anthea McCleary-coached Mount Pleasant by 17 goals.
Now coached by Cayde Hayes, playing, and Hayley Langdon, Elmore has a tally of six wins, four defeats and a draw.
It’s been a superb effort by Mount Pleasant to be on an eight-three record rolling into Saturday’s test with Elmore.
Another important match will be at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve where the Hawks take on North Bendigo.
A win for Huntly and a loss for Mount Pleasant would put the Hawks level with the brown and gold on 32 premiership points.
North Bendigo will be just as desperate for the four premiership points as it sits eight points adrift of the fifth-placed Elmore.
The Hawks and Bulldogs are both on the rebound from defeat.
As the Ashlea Sherlock and Kym Bell-coached Huntly was being defeated at Elmore, North Bendigo could not halt White Hills on its way to an eight-goal win at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street.
It was a five-goal victory for the Hawks on the Bulldogs’ court in round four.
Heathcote will mark win number two or Lockington Bamawm United will celebrate its first victory at the end of the Saints and Cats match at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
As the Saints had the bye last Saturday the LBU Cats were outplayed by the unbeaten Colbinabbin.
Back in round four the Anna Dundon-coached Heathcote won at Lockington by 12 goals.
In recent weeks the Kerryn Giorgianni and Shelby Stone-coached LBU has put some fine quarters together so the Saints should expect a tough match.
Colbinabbin will be back on its court at M.J. Morgan Oval to play Leitchville Gunbower.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin has starred in all thirds of the court to be on top of the ladder.
Back in round four the Grasshoppers won at Leitchville by 60 goals.
A young Leitchville Gunbower team coached by Grant Matthews will be determined to be more competitive this time.
The Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons have the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition after 12 rounds:
Colbinabbin 240 per cent, 40 points; White Hills 124, 36; Mount Pleasant 126, 32; Huntly 103, 28; Elmore 101, 26; North Bendigo 103, 18; Leitchville Gunbower 71, 8; Heathcote 55, 4; Lockington Bamawm United 60, 0.
Netball ladders after 12 rounds:
A-reserve:
Huntly 169 per cent, 40 points; Mount Pleasant 154, 28; Colbinabbin 116, 24; North Bendigo 113, 24; White Hills 123, 20; Lockington Bamawm United 84, 12; Elmore 54, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 54, 0.
B-grade:
Huntly 158 per cent, 40 points; White Hills 149, 40; Mount Pleasant 117, 26; Lockington Bamawm United 95, 22; Heathcote 103, 20; North Bendigo 99, 20; Elmore 81, 12; Colbinabbin 87, 8; Leitchville Gunbower 44, 4.
B-reserve:
Huntly 162 per cent, 44 points; White Hills 135, 36; Mount Pleasant 154, 32; North Bendigo 128, 28; Heathcote 93, 18; Lockington Bamawm United 100, 16; Elmore 87, 12; Colbinabbin 72, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 36, 2.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 175 per cent, 44 points; Huntly 194, 38; White Hills 160, 36; Elmore 88, 20; Lockington Bamawm United 126, 18; Leitchville Gunbower 85, 16; Heathcote 64, 8; Colbinabbin 45, 8; North Bendigo 55, 4.
15-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 340 per cent, 44 points; White Hills 181, 36; Elmore 143, 34; Colbinabbin 103, 24; Leitchville Gunbower 95, 22; Huntly 97, 16; Heathcote 53, 12; Mount Pleasant 37, 4; North Bendigo 40, 0.
13-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 387 per cent, 44 points; Elmore 262, 36; Colbinabbin 226, 32; Leitchville Gunbower 150, 28; Heathcote 85, 16; Mount Pleasant 64, 16; North Bendigo 63, 12; Huntly 27, 4; White Hills 23, 4.