BY NATHAN DOLE
UNBEATEN as it chases back-to-back A-grade premierships, Elmore can expect a fiery contest with White Hills in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL second semi-final on Saturday.
The Bloods and Demons will renew a great rivalry when they take to Colbinabbin’s court at M.J. Morgan Reserve.
Play between the league’s top two of this season and last year’s grand finalists will start at 2.30pm.
Day one of the finals series featured White Hills against Colbinabbin in the qualifying final at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
The Lauren Bowles-coached Demons teamed brilliantly in all thirds of the court to record a 64-48 victory.
Now the challenge is to overcome an Elmore line-up which beat the Demons in both of their duels in the home-and-away series.
An Elmore team jointly coached by Allira Holmes and Gabe Richards marked a 62-56 win at home against the Demons in the fourth round.
The 13th round was not unlucky for the Bloods as they won 57-45 at Winslow Constructors Oval in White Hills.
On Sunday it will be Colbinabbin and Mount Pleasant fighting to stay in the premiership race when they contest the first semi-final at Elmore from 2pm.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin won both clashes with the Blues in the run to the finals.
In round three the Grasshoppers romped to a 71-35 victory at M.J. Morgan Oval.
Result was much closer in the 12th round as the green and gold beat the Blues, 59-51 at Toolleen.
Mount Pleasant overcame a two-goal deficit at the start of the last quarter to record a 43-38 victory against Heathcote in last Sunday’s elimination final at North Bendigo’s Hibo Hotel Oval.
In the A-reserve competition, Elmore faces White Hills in Saturday’s second semi-final at 1pm.
This season’s meetings stand at one-all.
White Hills netted a 39-31 victory at Elmore in the fourth round, but the Bloods took the points, 38-29 in the Demons’ den in the 13th round.
As Elmore had a rest last weekend, White Hills won the qualifying final against North Bendigo.
Although it was playing on North Bendigo’s court, White Hills won every quarter in a 39-27 result.
On Sunday it will be North Bendigo against Mount Pleasant in the first semi at 12.30pm.
Latest meeting between these teams ended in a 40-34 victory for the Bulldogs on the Blues’ court at Toolleen.
Mount Pleasant withstood a spirited final quarter fightback by Colbinabbin to claim a 46-44 victory in the elimination final.
It’s another Demons and Bloods clash in the B-grade second semi as White Hills faces Elmore at 10am.
The White Hills line-up has beaten the Bloods by margins of nine and seven goals this season.
Elmore won a closely-fought qualifying final against the Harlowe Huntly Hawks, 41-36.
The Hawks will be aiming to bounce back in the elimination final clash with Colbinabbin from 11am.
In round six the Hawks beat the Grasshoppers, 51-26.
Latest meeting was the 15th round where Huntly won 39-31 on Colbinabbin’s court.
The Grasshoppers scored a 36-30 win against Mount Pleasant in the elimination final.
Huntly takes on White Hills in the B-reserve second semi at 11.30am.
The Hawks beat the Demons by eight goals in round eight, and then 57-41 at White Hills in the 17th round.
On day one of the finals action, White Hills scored a 45-36 victory against Mount Pleasant in the qualifying final.
Mounts will be aiming to bounce back in Sunday’s first semi against North Bendigo from 12.30pm.
In round 10, North Bendigo won 55-32 on Mount Pleasant’s court.
The Bulldogs marked a 41-34 victory against Elmore in the elimination final.
Among the first of Saturday’s second semi-finals will be the 17-under match between Lockington Bamawm United and Colbinabbin at 8.45am.
In round 10, LBU beat the Grasshoppers at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval by 10 goals.
A dramatic round 13 match at Colbinabbin ended in a 44-43 win for the Cats.
The qualifying final between Colbinabbin and Heathcote went the way of the green and gold, 42-35.
Heathcote will now face Mount Pleasant in the first semi-final at 9.30am.
In round six the Saints won 40-38 at Toolleen.
Return match at Pigeon Park in the 15th round went the Blues way, 41-22.
Mounts fired up for a 53-23 win against Huntly in the elimination final.
The 15-under second semi-final features Mount Pleasant against Elmore from 10am.
The Blues have dominated both hit-outs with the Bloods to win 44-22 and 54-23.
Big test for an Elmore line-up which made a confident start to the finals by scoring a 52-35 win against Huntly last Saturday.
The Hawks will aim to bounce back against White Hills in the elimination final which starts at 11am.
This season Huntly has defeated the Demons, 46-25 and 58-25.
White Hills won a thrilling elimination finals against Lockington Bamawm United.
At the final siren, White Hills led 37-35.
It will be Lockington Bamawm United or Heathcote which is first to the 13-under grand final.
The Cats and Saints meet in the second semi-final at 8.45am on Colbinabbin’s court.
LBU won 32-20 at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park in round seven, and 35-13 at home in the 16th round.
The Saints won all quarters to record a 23-12 victory against Leitchville Gunbower in the qualifying final.
The LG Bombers take on Colbinabbin the first semi at 9.30am on Sunday at Elmore.
A test for the team in black, yellow and red as Colbinabbin marked a 23-6 win against Huntly in the elimination final.
The Bombers played brilliant netball for a 40-35 victory at Colbinabbin in the fifth round.
Grasshoppers struck back for a 19-18 win on the Bombers’ court in the 17th round at Gunbower.