-By Nathan Dole
WHITE Hills ended Huntly’s unbeaten run in Saturday’s fifth round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote District FNL season.
Back on court after a bye and loss to North Bendigo the previous round, White Hills was fired up for the contest at the home of the Harlowe Huntly Hawks in Strauch Reserve.
The Elly Lawton-coached Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons teamed superbly in all thirds of the court to clinch a 46-37 victory.
The result meant the Demons jumped to the fourth rung on the ladder and now are just a win behind Huntly.
White Hills has played one less match than the brown and gold.
Match of the day was the rematch of ’24 grand finalists Colbinabbin and Elmore at Colbinabbin’xs M.J. Morgan Oval.
Unlike last September it was Colbinabbin which dominated this contest to beat the reigning premier by 56 goals.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin again surpassed the 70-goal mark for the fourth match in a row.
It was a disappointing day for Elmore coach Annie Hockey and a team which is vastly different to the one which claimed last year’s premiership.
Heathcote could not halt Leitchville Gunbower’s charge to its first victory of the season.
Although the Saints were on their court at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve it was Leitchville Gunbower which controlled a lot of the play.
The Grant Matthews-coached LG Bombers led 16-9 at quarter-time and then upped the pressure in the second.
By half-time the Bombers led 34-18.
Leitchville Gunbower doubled the Saints score in the third quarter, 14-7.
By the final siren the Bombers led 65-38.
The result meant ladder positions were flipped.
Mount Pleasant hit back from defeat the previous round to score an 18-goal win against North Bendigo.
The Anthea McCleary-coached Mount Pleasant won 52-34 at Toolleen.
Despite the loss and a one-three record the Kiralee Kinder-coached North Bendigo is just four points adrift of the fifth-placed Elmore.
Lockington Bamawm United had the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Colbinabbin 334 per cent, 16 points; Mount Pleasant 156, 16; Huntly 121, 16; White Hills 115, 12; Elmore 81, 8; North Bendigo 89, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 67, 4; Heathcote 51, 4; Lockington Bamawm United 49, 0.
In next Saturday’s sixth round, White Hills will be on its court in Scott Street against Mount Pleasant.
North Bendigo faces Colbinabbin at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street.
Elmore and Heathcote clash at Elmore Recreation Reserve.
Leitchville Gunbower takes on Lockington Bamawm United in the Bombers’ hangar at Leitchville Recreation Reserve.
Huntly has the bye.
Round five scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Colbinabbin 71 d Elmore 29, Huntly 45 d White Hills 38, Mount Pleasant 38 d North Bendigo 31, Lockington Bamawm United bye.
B-grade:
Colbinabbin 44 d Elmore 31, Huntly 52 d White Hills 44, Mount Pleasant 42 lt North Bendigo 52, Heathcote 53 d Leitchville Gunbower 29, Lockington Bamawm United bye.
B-reserve:
Colbinabbin 45 lt Elmore 48, Huntly 35 d White Hills 32, Mount Pleasant 38 d North Bendigo 33, Heathcote 31 dr Leitchville Gunbower 31, Lockington Bamawm United bye.
17-and-under:
Colbinabbin 48 d Elmore 35, Huntly 48 d White Hills 26, Mount Pleasant 42 d North Bendigo 22, Heathcote 24 lt Leitchville Gunbower 51, Lockington Bamawm United bye.
15-and-under:
Colbinabbin 22 lt Elmore 45, Huntly 35 lt White Hills 55, Mount Pleasant 39 d North Bendigo 32, Heathcote 18 lt Leitchville Gunbower 42, Lockington Bamawm United bye.
13-and-under:
Colbinabbin 32 d Elmore 19, Huntly 31 lt White Hills 46, Mount Pleasant 26 d North Bendigo 12, Heathcote 13 lt Leitchville Gunbower 36, Lockington Bamawm United bye.
League ladders:
A-reserve:
Huntly 202 per cent, 20 points; Mount Pleasant 214, 16; Colbinabbin 149, 8; White Hills 135, 8; North Bendigo 102, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 69, 4; Elmore 44, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 36, 0.
B-grade:
Huntly 170 per cent, 20 points; White Hills 143, 12; Heathcote 138, 12; Mount Pleasant 117, 10; Elmore 86, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 74, 6; Colbinabbin 91, 4; North Bendigo 79, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 43, 4.
B-reserve:
Huntly 176 per cent, 20 points; Mount Pleasant 147, 16; Heathcote 103, 10; White Hills 121, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 101, 8; North Bendigo 100, 8; Colbinabbin 98, 4; Elmore 75, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 41, 2.
17-and-under:
Huntly 264 per cent, 20 points; Mount Pleasant 196, 20; White Hills 114, 12; Lockington Bamawm United 123, 8; Leitchville Gunbower 88, 8; Elmore 74, 4; Colbinabbin 65, 4; Heathcote 58, 4; North Bendigo 42, 0.
15-and-under:
Elmore 186 per cent, 18 points; Lockington Bamawm United 320, 16; White Hills 178, 12; Leitchville Gunbower 112, 12; Colbinabbin 86, 8; Huntly 79, 6; Mount Pleasant 49, 4; Heathcote 41, 4; North Bendigo 48, 0.
13-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 570 per cent, 16 points; Elmore 335, 16; Leitchville Gunbower 203, 16; Colbinabbin 146, 12; North Bendigo 72, 8; Mount Pleasant 68, 8; White Hills 31, 4; Heathcote 30, 0; Huntly 28, 0.