-By Nathan Dole
THE Harlowe Huntly Hawks face a red-hot Colbinabbin in Saturday’s eighth round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
It’s a huge challenge for the Hawks who have home-court advantage at Strauch Reserve against the unbeaten Grasshoppers.
After a four-nil start to the season, Huntly’s been beaten in its past two contests by White Hills, home, and Mount Pleasant, away.
The Ashlea Sherlock and Kym Bell-coached Hawks worked hard in last Saturday’s match against Mount Pleasant at Toolleen.
It was the Anthea McCleary-coached Blues who netted a 55-42 win against the brown and gold.
A sign of Colbinabbin’s dominance is reflected in a goals tally of 476 for, and 171 against.
Latest hit-out for the Hoppers was against White Hills at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin won every quarter on its way to a 70-37 victory.
Another important match will be at Elmore where the Bloods take on Leitchville Gunbower.
A 45-41 win at Lockington last Saturday ensured Elmore kept the heat on the third and fourth-placed Huntly and White Hills.
The Bloods who are now coached by Cayde Hayes, playing, and Hayley Langdon, non-playing, will be wary of the Bombers.
The Grant Matthews-coached Leitchville Gunbower had the bye last Saturday after wins at Heathcote and then at Leitchville against the LBU Cats.
Stung by a big loss on Colbinabbin’s court, White Hills will be back at the Scott Street ground to play Heathcote.
It’s the clash of the Demons and Saints at the home of the Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons.
The Elly Lawton-coached White Hills will start favourite to take the points.
Now being coached by Anna Dundon, Heathcote was end of a 16-goal loss to North Bendigo at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve last round.
It’s a showdown between the Bulldogs and Cats as North Bendigo hosts Lockington Bawawm United at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street.
The Kiralee Kinder-coached North Bendigo teamed well to win the opening three quarters on the way to a 55-39 victory at Heathcote.
Although it is winless, Lockington Bamawm United was not far away from a massive upset against Elmore last Saturday.
The Kerryn Giorgianni and Shelby Stone-coached LBU will be aiming to bring the confidence and momentum from that match to the clash with the red, white and blue.
Mount Pleasant has the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Colbinabbin 278 per cent, 24 points; Mount Pleasant 132, 20; Huntly 111, 16; White Hills 105, 16; Elmore 98, 16; North Bendigo 87, 8; Leitchville Gunbower 74, 8; Heathcote 53, 4; Lockington Bamawm United 58, 0.
Heathcote DFNL netball ladders after seven rounds:
A-reserve:
Huntly 184 per cent, 24 points; Mount Pleasant 165, 20; Colbinabbin 136, 16; Lockington Bamawm United 85, 12; White Hills 109, 8; North Bendigo 97, 8; Elmore 51, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 44, 0.
B-grade:
Huntly 160 per cent, 24 points; White Hills 139, 20; Heathcote 124, 16; Lockington Bamawm United 93, 14; North Bendigo 91, 12; Mount Pleasant 107, 10; Elmore 83, 8; Colbinabbin 84, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 46, 4.
B-reserve:
Huntly 163 per cent, 24 points; Mount Pleasant 126, 16; North Bendigo 124, 16; White Hills 117, 16; Heathcote 99, 14; Lockington Bamawm United 114, 12; Elmore 82, 8; Colbinabbin 83, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 39, 2.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 163 per cent, 28 points; Huntly 221, 20; White Hills 148, 16; Elmore 91, 16; Leitchville Gunbower 91, 12; Lockington Bamawm United 112, 8; Heathcote 62, 4; North Bendigo 62, 4; Colbinabbin 51, 4.
15-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 283 per cent, 24 points; Elmore 148, 22; White Hills 185, 20; Colbinabbin 103, 12; Leitchville Gunbower 86, 12; Huntly 97, 10; Heathcote 56, 8; Mount Pleasant 44, 4; North Bendigo 49, 0.
13-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 438 per cent, 24 points; Elmore 256, 20; Colbinabbin 160, 20; Leitchville Gunbower 135, 16; Mount Pleasant 87, 16; North Bendigo 61, 8; White Hills 46, 4; Heathcote 40, 4; Huntly 32, 0.