Saints cap roller-coaster week with a victory
ALTHOUGH it’s hopes of contesting the Bendigo Bank Heathcote District Football Netball League’s A-grade netball finals were gone, Heathcote put in a superb effort to win Saturday’s round 18 clash with Leitchville Gunbower.
The Saints and Bombers took to the Barrack Reserve court in Heathcote.
Leitchville Gunbower still had a chance to make the finals, but the Saints began the day’s play two wins behind fifth-placed Huntly.
The Hawks had been declared the winner of the previous week’s match after an Elmore player had not correctly being listed on the scoresheet.
The decision by the HDFNL board made under international netball rules and HDFNL by-laws meant Heathcote would not play finals, regardless of a win in the final round of the home and away series.
Joint playing coach of the Heathcote line-up, Brooke Bolton was in great form as the Saints won 38-31 against the Bombers.
The win lifted the Saints to sixth on the ladder, equal on five wins with Lockington Bamawm United and Leitchville Gunbower.
The third-placed Mount Pleasant won 55-44 on Colbinabbin’s court at M.J. Morgan Reserve.
In a season capped by massive improvement, Lockington Bamawm United played at Elmore in the final round.
The Elmore line-up won 77-34.
The ladder-leading White Hills warmed up for the finals by scoring a 65-38 win against Huntly on the Demons’ court at Scott Street.
The Lauren Bowles-coached White Hills has a rest in week one of the finals and will meet the winner of the qualifying final between Elmore and Mount Pleasant in the second semi on August 20.
North Bendigo had the bye.
Final standings in the Heathcote DFNL’s A-grade netball competition:
White Hills 169 per cent, 60 points; Elmore 159, 56; Mount Pleasant 108, 44; Colbinabbin 98, 32; Huntly 83, 24; Heathcote 86, 20; Lockington Bamawm 85, 20; Leitchville Gunbower 80, 20; North Bendigo 63, 12.
Qualifying finals on Saturday at Lockington.
A-grade: Elmore v Mount Pleasant.
A-reserve: White Hills v Colbinabbin.
B-grade: Huntly v Colbinabbin.
B-reserve: White Hills v Leitchville Gunbower.
17-and-under: White Hills v Mount Pleasant.
15-and-under: Mount Pleasant v North Bendigo.
13-and-under: Elmore v Leitchville Gunbower.
Elimination finals on Sunday at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval.
A-grade: Colbinabbin v Huntly.
B-grade: White Hills v Mount Pleasant.
B-reserve: Mount Pleasant v Elmore.
17-and-under: Leitchville Gunbower v Heathcote.
15-and-under: Elmore v Huntly.
13-and-under: Heathcote v Huntly.
Written by Nathan Dole.
