BY NATHAN DOLE
Gisborne, Dragons to fore in second semis
GISBORNE and Sandhurst feature prominently in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL’s netball second semi-finals to be played on Saturday at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
All five matches will involve Gisborne as Sandhurst has four teams vying to be first into the September 21 grand finals.
It’s a rematch of the ’23 grand final as the Bulldogs and Dragons meet in A-grade at 3.20pm.
This season’s meetings between the teams have been won by the Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne.
The Bulldogs began their campaign in round two at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
A great match ended in a 42-38 victory for the red, white and blue.
The round 11 showdown was at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve where the home team marked a 42-31 win.
A 13-1 record meant Gisborne finished the home-and-away series on top of the ladder and had a rest in week one of the finals.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst began another finals campaign by scoring a 46-42 win against Kangaroo Flat in the qualifying final.
Gisborne and Sandhurst are incredibly strong in all thirds of the court.
The return of dual Betty Thompson medallist Maddy Stewart was a huge plus as Gisborne strives for back-to-back premierships.
A strong line-up for Gisborne includes Zoe Davies and Charlee Kemp in defence, and young gun Kirby Elliott.
A brilliant player in defence or attack, Sandhurst’s Heather Oliver earned the Betty Thompson Medal in 2015 and ’17.
Fairest and best for the Bendigo Strikers 23-and-under team in its debut VNL season, Shae Clifford starred at wing attack for Sandhurst in the qualifying final.
The Dragons have Charlotte Sexton and Ruby Turner as the key pillars in defence, and Meg Williams in mid-court.
On Sunday it will be Kangaroo Flat against Eaglehawk in the first semi-final.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos are on the rebound from a qualifying final defeat, albeit by just four goals.
Kangaroo Flat will be desperate to avoid a repeat of a year ago when it was beaten in the first semi-final.
Based on this season’s results the Roos will start hot favourite against the Hawks.
In round five the Kangaroos scored a 76-15 win against the Two Blues at Dower Park.
The round 12 match on Eaglehawk’s court in Canterbury Park ended in a 75-26 victory for the Roos.
The Kylie Piercy-coached Eaglehawk faces a massive challenge, but carries the momentum from a five-goal win against Strathfieldsaye in the elimination final.
Key players for the Kangaroos include last season’s Betty Thompson medallist Chelsea Sartori in mid-court, and Abbey Ryan at goal attack.
Another key player in the green and white is Ash Ryan who claimed the Betty Thompson Medal after starring in mid-court as Eaglehawk charged to a preliminary final in the 2019 season.
The Hawks best in the elimination final included Elley Lawton and Morgan Keating in defence.
Eaglehawk will look to Gracie Berryman and Lucy Morcom to finish off the attacks.
It’s a huge day for Sandhurst FNC on Saturday as the club is represented in all five of the second semi-finals.
In A-reserve, Sandhurst takes on the unbeaten Gisborne.
The Bulldogs have their two previous showdowns with the Dragons by six and 12 goals.
Sandhurst won the qualifying final against Strathfieldsaye Storm by 11 goals.
After an 11-goal win against Kangaroo Flat in the B-grade clash last Saturday, Sandhurst takes on Gisborne.
The second semi-finalists had identical 14-2 records across the home-and-away series.
Gisborne scored a 52-46 win on Sandhurst’s court at the QEO in round two.
The round 11 match at Gardiner Reserve ended in a 46-39 win for the maroon and blue.
Sandhurst puts an unbeaten record on the line in B-reserve against Gisborne.
The Bulldogs marked a 37-goal win against Strathfieldsaye in the qualifying final.
This season’s meetings between Gisborne and Sandhurst went the Dragons’ way by 13 and 18 goals.
First-up on second semi-final day will be Sandhurst and Golden Square in the 17-and-under match.
Both had 15-1 records to be one and two on the ladder.
In round six, Sandhurst scored a 61-34 win on Golden Square’s court at Fur Life Oval in Wade Street.
It was a two-goal thriller in round 15 as the Bulldogs won 49-47 on the QEO court.
There will be four clubs represented across first semi-finals on Sunday.
Strathfieldsaye Storm will be fighting to stay in the premiership race in A-reserve, B-grade, B-reserve, and 17-and-under.
Storm takes on Maryborough in A-reserve.
Strathfieldsaye’s finals campaign began with an 11-goal loss to Sandhurst in the qualifying final.
Maryborough netted a 50-45 win against Kangaroo Flat in the elimination final.
It’s two wins for Storm against Maryborough this season.
Strathfieldsaye won 43-39 on the Magpies’ court at Princes Park in round nine.
The finale to the 18-round home-and-away series included a 56-38 victory for Strathfieldsaye against Maryborough at Triple M Park.
It’s Kangaroo Flat against Strathfieldsaye in B-grade.
The Roos will be determined to bounce back after an 11-goal loss to Sandhurst in the qualifying final.
Storm surged to a 50-36 result in the elimination final against South Bendigo.
It was a one-goal thriller when Strathfieldsaye hosted Kangaroo Flat in the sixth round at Triple M Park.
The Roos won 44-43.
Kangaroo Flat outplayed Storm in the 15th round to mark a 56-39 victory.
In B-reserve it will be Strathfieldsaye against Kangaroo Flat.
Storm was outplayed on day one of the finals series as Gisborne charged to a 67-30 victory.
The Roos won the elimination final against South Bendigo by 11 goals.
Strathfieldsaye won the round six clash with the Roos at Triple M Park by 22 goals.
In the 15th round Kangaroo Flat fought on for a 42-40 victory on the Roos’ court in Dower Park.
Maryborough takes on Strathfieldsaye in the first semi-final of the 17-and-under competition.
The Magpies are on the rebound from a 10-goal loss to Golden Square in the qualifying final.
Strathfieldsaye won an elimination final thriller against Gisborne, 59-56.
The first semi-finalists first met at the halfway mark of the season where Maryborough won 49-38 in the round nine clash at Princes Park.
A goal was the margin when they clashed in the 18th round.
On that day Storm led 45-44 when the siren sounded at Triple M Park.
Schedule for Saturday’s second semi-finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval:
17-and-under at 10am: Sandhurst v Golden Square.
B-reserve at 11.20am: Sandhurst v Gisborne.
B-grade at 12.40pm: Gisborne v Sandhurst.
A-reserve at 2pm: Gisborne v Sandhurst.
A-grade at 3.20pm: Gisborne v Sandhurst.
Schedule for Sunday’s first semi-finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval:
17-and-under at 10am: Maryborough v Strathfieldsaye.
B-reserve at 11.20am: Strathfieldsaye v Kangaroo Flat.
B-grade at 12.40pm: Kangaroo Flat v Strathfieldsaye.
A-reserve at 2pm: Strathfieldsaye v Maryborough.
A-grade at 3.20pm: Kangaroo Flat v Eaglehawk.