-By Nathan Dole
THE unbeaten Colbinabbin was too strong for Mount Pleasant in Saturday’s ninth round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
Colbinabbin passed the 70-goal mark on its court as it outplayed the Blues at M.J. Morgan Oval.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Grasshoppers bound their way to a 72-38 victory.
A Mount Pleasant team coached by Anthea McCleary is third on the ladder, but under pressure to stay there from Elmore and Huntly.
Results in the other three A-grade matches went as expected.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks netted a 16-goal win on Heathcote’s court at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve.
The Ashlea Sherlock and Kym Bell-coached Hawks soared to a 65-49 victory.
Huntly holds fifth place, but a resurgent North Bendigo has moved within a win of the Hawks.
The Kiralee Kinder-coached North Bendigo scored a 56-31 win in Saturday’s showdown with Leitchville Gunbower in Leitchville.
A young LG Bombers team coached by Grant Matthews could not stop the Bulldogs’ slick movement from mid-court to attack.
The Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons won three quarters and drew the other in their clash with Lockington Bamawm United at Nichol Trading Oval in Lockington.
The Elly Lawton coached White Hills charged to a 17-4 lead at quarter-time and was up 32-12 by the main break.
Quarter three went the way of the Demons, 16-7.
The Kerryn Giorgianni and Shelby Stone-coached LBU Cats worked hard to tie the final quarter on 13 goals each as the Demons marked a 61-32 victory.
Elmore had the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Colbinabbin 251 per cent, 32 points; White Hills 123, 24; Mount Pleasant 115, 20; Elmore 105, 20; Huntly 103, 20; North Bendigo 107, 16; Leitchville Gunbower 71, 8; Heathcote 56, 4; Lockington Bamawm United 55, 0.
The second half of the home-and-away series tips off next Saturday.
A highlight of the 10th round will be Elmore against North Bendigo at Elmore Recreation Reserve.
Heathcote will be back on its court at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve to take on Mount Pleasant.
It’s the Hawks against the Cats as Harlowe Huntly Hawks hosts Lockington Bamawm United at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
Leitchville Gunbower plays at Gunbower for the first time this season as the Bombers play White Hills.
Colbinabbin has the bye.
Round nine scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Colbinabbin 57 d Mount Pleasant 55, Heathcote forfeit to Colbinabbin, Leitchville Gunbower 37 lt North Bendigo 45, Lockington Bamawm United 39 lt White Hills 53, Elmore bye.
B-grade:
Colbinabbin 34 lt Mount Pleasant 50, Heathcote 33 lt Huntly 56, Leitchville Gunbower 30 lt North Bendigo 64, Lockington Bamawm United 43 lt White Hills 51, Elmore bye.
B-reserve:
Colbinabbin 26 lt Mount Pleasant 57, Heathcote 14 lt Huntly 19, Leitchville Gunbower 24 lt North Bendigo 56, Lockington Bamawm United 34 lt White Hills 42, Elmore bye.
17-and-under:
Colbinabbin 6 lt Mount Pleasant 49, Heathcote 28 lt Huntly 61, Leitchville Gunbower 45 d North Bendigo 30, Lockington Bamawm United 36 lt White Hills 40, Elmore bye.
15-and-under:
Colbinabbin 48 d Mount Pleasant 15, Heathcote 21 lt Huntly 62, Leitchville Gunbower 58 d North Bendigo 25, Lockington Bamawm United 65 d White Hills 24, Elmore bye.
13-and-under:
Colbinabbin 37 d Mount Pleasant 7, Heathcote 45 d Huntly 13, Leitchville Gunbower 27 d North Bendigo 9, Lockington Bamawm United 39 d White Hills 4, Elmore bye.
Netball ladders after nine rounds:
A-reserve:
Huntly 175 per cent, 28 points; Mount Pleasant 150, 20; Colbinabbin 118, 20; North Bendigo 102, 16; White Hills 113, 12; Lockington Bamawm United 84, 12; Elmore 57, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 53, 0.
B-grade:
Huntly 151 per cent, 28 points; White Hills 135, 28; Lockington Bamawm United 96, 18; Heathcote 105, 16; North Bendigo 100, 16; Mount Pleasant 111, 14; Elmore 93, 12; Colbinabbin 85, 8; Leitchville Gunbower 46, 4.
B-reserve:
Huntly 159 per cent, 32 points; North Bendigo 136, 24; White Hills 120, 24; Mount Pleasant 135, 20; Heathcote 93, 14; Lockington Bamawm United 103, 12; Elmore 92, 12; Colbinabbin 74, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 41, 2.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 183 per cent, 32 points; Huntly 208, 28; White Hills 147, 24; Elmore 94, 20; Leitchville Gunbower 95, 16; Lockington Bamawm United 116, 12; North Bendigo 61, 4; Heathcote 58, 4; Colbinabbin 48, 4.
15-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 301 per cent, 32 points; Elmore 151, 26; White Hills 170, 24; Colbinabbin 123, 20; Leitchville Gunbower 95, 16; Huntly 107, 14; Heathcote 44, 8; Mount Pleasant 43, 4; North Bendigo 43, 0.
13-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 486 per cent, 32 points; Colbinabbin 266, 28; Elmore 253, 24; Leitchville Gunbower 127, 20; Mount Pleasant 75, 16; Heathcote 80, 12; North Bendigo 52, 8; White Hills 26, 4; Huntly 29, 0.