THE task of trying to halt the winning run by Kangaroo Flat in A-grade netball falls to Gisborne in this Saturday’s third round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League season.
It’s third against first on Gisborne’s court at the new-look Gardiner Reserve.
Tipped by many as teams likely to challenge Sandhurst’s crown as the league’s beat, Gisborne and Kangaroo Flat have started 2021 in fine form.
Gisborne scored a 20-goal win at home against Strathfieldsaye in round one and followed up with a 25-goal victory at Golden Square last round.
The Kangaroos have made a flying start to the 2021 campaign.
A 41-goal win on Eaglehawk’s court in the season-opener was followed by a 58-goal victory at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park last round.
There is plenty of incentive for Gisborne to perform well.
The club’s run in 2019 included a 15-goal loss to Kangaroo Flat in the qualifying final.
Great rivals across all grades of netball and football, Sandhurst and Golden Square meet at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The in-form Sandhurst will start favourite to take the points.
A 24-goal win at Strathfieldsaye in the stand-alone game on Good Friday was followed by a 50-goal victory against Maryborough at the QEO.
The maroon and blue have scored 135 goals in two matches and will test the Golden Square defence.
A young Golden Square line-up played well to finish within seven goals of Kyneton in round one and 25 goals in last Saturday’s clash with Gisborne at Fur Life Vet Oval in Wade Street.
The winless Strathfieldsaye hosts Maryborough on Storm’s court at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
In a tough start to the season, Storm has played Sandhurst at home, and then at Gisborne.
After a 50-goal loss in its opening game of the season, Maryborough had a rest last Saturday as Castlemaine is not fielding an A-grade team.
The round 18 clash in 2019 between Storm and Maryborough ended in a four-goal win for Strathfieldsaye.
Final game of round three begins at 6pm when Kyneton plays South Bendigo under the Kyneton Showgrounds lights.
The Tigers, 1-1, face a Bloods line-up which fought to score a 41-39 victory in last Saturday’s showdown with Eaglehawk at the QEO.
Kyneton beat Golden Square by seven goals in round one, but was outpointed by a red-hot Kangaroo Flat last Saturday.
The most recent match between Kyneton and South Bendigo ended in a 30-goal win for the Bloods.
The Tigers will be determined to be a lot more competitive this time.
Eaglehawk is drawn to play Castlemaine at S & R Park in Canterbury Park.
The Hawks have a rest in A-grade, but will take on the Magpies in A-reserve, B-grade, B-reserve, and 17-and-under.
The day’s action at Eaglehawk starts at 11.30am.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL’s A-grade netball competition:
Kangaroo Flat 325 per cent, 8 points; Sandhurst 221, 8; Gisborne 178, 8; South Bendigo 105, 8; Kyneton 51, 4; Maryborough 35, 4; Golden Square 62, 0; Strathfieldsaye 61, 0; Eaglehawk 60, 0.
Written by Nathan Dole