BY NATHAN DOLE
Eight clubs feature as netball finals tip-off
EIGHT clubs will feature across this weekend’s netball qualifying and elimination finals in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL action at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Play begins with Saturday’s qualifying finals at the View Street ground.
In A-grade, Sandhurst takes on Kangaroo Flat from 3.20pm.
Both clubs have played out many great matches, especially finals, for many seasons.
This season’s showdowns stand at two-nil in favour of Sandhurst.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Dragons scored a 46-39 victory in the season’s opener on Kangaroo Flat’s court in Dower Park.
Five goals was the margin when the teams met in the 10th round at the QEO.
Sandhurst won a closely-fought match, 47-42.
Across the home-and-away series, Sandhurst had a win-loss tally of 12-2 as Kangaroo Flat finished the 18-round season on an 11-3 record.
A highlight of the run by the Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroo Flat was the 49-43 win at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve in round nine.
Winner of Saturday’s match will meet reigning premier, Gisborne in the second semi-final on September 7.
Eaglehawk and Strathfieldsaye will be striving to stay in the premiership race when they contest Sunday’s elimination final.
It’s also one-one in this season’s matches between the Hawks and Storm.
Strathfieldsaye marked a 33-27 victory in the third round on its court at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
The Hawks dominated most of the match to score a 46-33 win against Storm in round 12 on the Borough’s court in Canterbury Park.
The Kylie Piercy-coached Eaglehawk achieved a win-loss tally of seven-seven in the run to the finals.
It’s a six-eight record for the Steph Freemantle-coached Storm.
Based on their results in the home-and-away series, Strathfieldsaye and Sandhurst are poised for another thriller in the A-reserve qualifying final on Saturday.
Storm and the Dragons will play from 2pm.
In round eight, Sandhurst won 38-35 on Strathfieldsaye’s court.
Next time it was Storm which fought on for a 45-44 victory in the Dragons’ den at the QEO.
Gisborne awaits the winner of this match.
On Sunday it will be Kangaroo Flat against Maryborough in the A-reserve elimination final.
Scores were locked on 41-all when the siren sounded to end their round two match at Maryborough’s Princes Park.
The Magpies won 39-37 at Kangaroo Flat in the 11th round.
It will be Sandhurst against Kangaroo Flat in the B-grade qualifying final which starts at 12.40pm.
The Dragons won 48-41 on the Roos’ court in round one, but Kangaroo Flat bounced back for a 51-40 result in round 10 at the QEO.
Gisborne will face the Dragons or Roos in the second semi-final.
On Sunday it’s Strathfieldsaye against South Bendigo in the elimination final.
Storm won both of this season’s meetings with the Bloods.
Strathfieldsaye won 56-42 in the first round at Triple M Park, and 59-49 in the 10th round at Harry Trott Oval.
In B-reserve, Gisborne will play Strathfieldsaye in the qualifying final from 11.20am.
The Bulldogs defeated Storm, 55-34 at Gardiner Reserve in round seven.
It was a one-goal thriller in the 16th round as Gisborne took the points, 46-45 at Triple M Park.
Sandhurst qualified for the second semi-final.
Kangaroo Flat faces South Bendigo in Sunday’s elimination final.
In round three the Bloods won 37-30 on the Kangaroo’s court in Dower Park.
The return match was dominated by the Roos as they bound their way to a 49-30 victory at Kennnington.
First-up in this year’s finals series will be the 17-and-under teams from Golden Square and Maryborough in Saturday’s qualifying final at 10am.
The Bulldogs have won both matches against the Magpies this season.
Golden Square won the round seven match at Maryborough’s Princes Park by 11 goals.
The blue and gold charged to a 55-31 victory in the 16th round at Fur Life Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.
Winner of the qualifying final will take on Sandhurst in the second semi-final.
Sunday’s elimination final features Strathfieldsaye against Gisborne.
It’s one-all between these teams.
Gisborne won 48-31 at Gardiner Reserve in the seventh round.
The round 16 clash ended in a 50-42 victory for Storm in Strathfieldsaye.
Schedule for Saturday’s qualifying finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval:
17-and-under at 10am: Golden Square v Maryborough.
B-reserve at 11.20am: Gisborne v Strathfieldsaye.
B-grade at 12.40pm: Sandhurst v Kangaroo Flat.
A-reserve at 2pm: Strathfieldsaye v Sandhurst.
A-grade at 3.20pm: Sandhurst v Kangaroo Flat.
Schedule for Sunday’s elimination finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval:
17-and-under at 10am: Strathfieldsaye v Gisborne.
B-reserve at 11.20am: Kangaroo Flat v South Bendigo.
B-grade at 12.40pm: Strathfieldsaye v South Bendigo.
A-reserve at 2pm: Kangaroo Flat v Maryborough.
A-grade at 3.20pm: Eaglehawk v Strathfieldsaye.