-By Nathan Dole
COLBINABBIN’S unbeaten run will be under threat when it faces White Hills in this Saturday’s seventh round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
The Grasshoppers will have home-court advantage as first takes on third at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval.
Runner-up the past two seasons, Colbinabbin has made a superb start to this campaign.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Grasshoppers won last Saturday’s match on North Bendigo’s court at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street by 33 goals.
A final score of 65-32 pushed the green and gold past the 400-goal mark in just five matches.
Another sign of Colbinabbin’s dominance is a tally of 134 against.
It will be a huge challenge for the Elly Lawton-coached White Hills to break Colbinabbin’s streak.
Stung by a loss at home to North Bendigo in round three, White Hills has won its past two hit-outs at Huntly and then against Mount Pleasant in the Demons’ den in Scott Street.
Another big match on Saturday will be at Toolleen where Mount Pleasant hosts the Harlowe Huntly Hawks.
The Anthea McCleary-coached Mount Pleasant will be keen to hit back after a 53-30 loss at White Hills.
Victory is likely to keep the Blues in second place in the premiership race.
The Hawks are back on court after a bye.
A Huntly line-up coached by Ashlea Sherlock and Kym Bell will have learnt plenty from the loss to White Hills in the fifth round at Strauch Reserve.
Heathcote and North Bendigo will be desperate to net win number two when they clash at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
The Saints and Bulldogs start this round in eighth and seventh place.
Sole win for Heathcote was at Lockington Bamawm United in round four.
After starting the season as netball operations manager, Anna Dundon is now coaching Heathcote’s A-grade team.
The Kiralee Kinder-coached North Bendigo teamed superbly to win at White Hills in round three.
Since then the red, white and blue have been defeated by Huntly, Mount Pleasant and Colbinabbin.
Lockington Bamawm United will be on its court at Nichol Trading Oval in Lockington to play Elmore.
Another big test for the Kerryn Giorgianni and Shelby Stone-coached Cats against the Bloods.
After a change of coach late last week, Elmore scored a 61-29 at home against Heathcote last Saturday.
The Bloods are now being coached by Cade Hayes, playing, and Hayley Langdon, non-playing.
Leitchville Gunbower has the bye.
Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball ladder after six rounds:
Colbinabbin 302 per cent, 20 points; Mount Pleasant 133, 16; White Hills 125, 16; Huntly 121, 16; Elmore 97, 12; Leitchville Gunbower 74, 8; North Bendigo 78, 4; Heathcote 50, 4; Lockington Bamawm United 53, 0.
Heathcote DFNL netball ladders after six rounds:
A-reserve:
Huntly 202 per cent, 20 points; Mount Pleasant 195, 20; Colbinabbin 141, 12; White Hills 116, 8; North Bendigo 97, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 80, 8; Elmore 44, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 44, 0.
B-grade:
Huntly 179 per cent, 20 points; Heathcote 138, 16; White Hills 135, 16; Mount Pleasant 119, 14; Lockington Bamawm United 87,10; North Bendigo 85, 8; Colbinabbin 89, 4; Elmore 79, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 46, 4.
B-reserve:
Huntly 176 per cent, 20 points; Mount Pleasant 136, 16; Heathcote 105, 14; North Bendigo 123, 12; Lockington Bamawm United 121, 12; White Hills 116, 12; Colbinabbin 83, 4; Elmore 78, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 39, 2.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 177 per cent, 24 points; Huntly 264, 20; White Hills 108, 12; Leitchville Gunbower 91, 12; Lockington Bamawm United 117, 8; Elmore 83, 8; Colbinabbin 72, 8; Heathcote 60, 4; North Bendigo 51, 0.
15-and-under:
Elmore 185 per cent, 22 points; Lockington Bamawm United 314, 20; White Hills 202, 16; Colbinabbin 109, 12; Leitchville Gunbower 86, 12; Huntly 79, 6; Mount Pleasant 45, 4; Heathcote 44, 4; North Bendigo 45, 0.
13-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 524 per cent, 20 points; Elmore 328, 20; Colbinabbin 170, 16; Leitchville Gunbower 135, 16; Mount Pleasant 78, 12; North Bendigo 60, 8; White Hills 37, 4; Heathcote 31, 0; Huntly 28, 0.