Elmore’s win rocked by injury to star pair
ELMORE’S victory in the A-grade netball qualifying final against Mount Pleasant was rocked by injuries in Saturday’s start to the Bendigo Bank Heathcote District Football Netball League finals series.
The Bloods beat the Blues by 29 goals at Lockington, but could be without joint playing coach Allira Holmes and Kelsey Niven for this Saturday’s second semi-final clash with White Hills on Gunbower’s court.
Holmes and goalkeeper Niven played big roles in the win against the Blues until they injured a hamstring and ankle respectively.
Mount Pleasant put in a great effort against the highly-rated Elmore to be within four goals at quarter-time.
The Bloods upped the pressure to surge to an 11-goal lead by the main break.
Elmore’s joint playing coach and gun goalshooter Gabe Richards poured in 22 goals in a third quarter blitz to lead by 26 goals going into the final term.
The Carine Comer-coached Mount Pleasant kept working hard to be outscored by just three goals in the last quarter.
Richards ended with a game-high 57 goals in a 71-42 victory.
Elmore’s best in the final included Cayde Hayes at wing attack.
Best for the Blues were Aisling Tupper in mid-court, Maeve Tupper, and goalkeeper Ivy Harrop against the powerful Richards.
Mount Pleasant will be back on its court at Toolleen for Sunday’s first semi-final against Colbinabbin.
The Grasshoppers won 41-35 in Sunday’s elimination final against Huntly at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Reserve.
In round 18 it was Mount Pleasant which scored a 10-goal victory on the Grasshoppers’ court.
Qualifying finals scoreboard:
A-reserve: White Hills lt Colbinabbin 58-59.
B-grade: Huntly lt Colbinabibn 46-48.
B-reserve: White Hills lt Leitchville-Gunbower 27-29.
17-and-under: White Hills lt Mount Pleasant 27-39.
15-and-under: Mount Pleasant d North Bendigo 35-20.
13-and-under: Elmore v Leitchville-Gunbower 22-19.
Elimination finals scoreboard:
A-reserve: Mount Pleasant lt Huntly 30-41.
B-grade: White Hills lt Mount Pleasant 35-50.
B-reserve: Mount Pleasant d Elmore 42-33.
17-and-under: Leitchville-Gunbower d Heathcote 37-34.
15-and-under: Elmore d Huntly 37-17.
13-and-under: Heathcote d Huntly 24-18.
Draw for Saturday’s second semi-finals at Gunbower:
A-grade: White Hills v Elmore.
A-reserve: Elmore v Colbinabbin.
B-grade: Elmore v Colbinabbin.
B-reserve: Huntly v Leitchville-Gunbower.
17-and-under: Lockington Bamawm United v Mount Pleasant.
15-and-under: Lockington Bamawm United v Mount Pleasant.
13-and-under: Lockington Bamawm United v Elmore.
Schedule for Sunday’s first semi-finals at Toolleen:
A-grade: Mount Pleasant v Colbinabbin.
A-reserve: White Hills v Huntly.
B-grade: Huntly v Mount Pleasant.
B-reserve: White Hills v Mount Pleasant.
17-and-under: White Hills v Leitchville-Gunbower.
15-and-under: Huntly v North Bendigo.
13-and-under: Leitchville-Gunbower v Heathcote.
Written by Nathan Dole.
