Demons under fire from Elmore in A-grade second semi
WHITE Hills will feel the heat from Elmore in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote District Football Netball League’s A-grade netball second semi-final on Saturday.
The Demons and Bloods will fight to reach the grand final first when they clash on the Gunbower Recreation Reserve court.
Record in this season’s meetings between the clubs stands at one-all.
In round five, Elmore won 62-55 on the White Hills court in Scott Street.
The return showdown in the 14th round at Elmore ended in a win for the Demons.
The Lauren Bowles-coached White Hills led by nine goals at quarter-time and withstood a strong fightback by the Bloods who drew within two goals in the final term to win 66-57.
Alyssa Cole led the White Hills attack as the red and black ended Elmore’s winning streak across the 2021 and ’22 seasons on 23 matches.
Finals pressure is what Bowles and quite a few of the White Hills players know a lot about.
The workrate of the Demons through mid-court and in defence will be crucial.
White Hills is up against an Elmore attack led by Gabe Richards.
A co-coach of the Bloods, Richards scored 57 goals as Elmore began its finals campaign with a 71-42 victory in last Saturday’s qualifying final against Mount Pleasant at Lockington.
The Bloods will be sweating on the fitness of co-coach Allira Holmes, hamstring, and goalkeeper Kelsey Niven, ankle, leading into the second semi-final.
Mount Pleasant and Colbinabbin will fight to stay in the premiership race when they play in Sunday’s first semi-final at Toolleen.
The Carine Comer-coached Mount Pleasant beat Colbinabbin in both of their contests in the home and away series.
Mounts won 47-28 at Toolleen in round nine, and just two weeks ago scored a 54-44 win on Colbinabbin’s court at M.J. Morgan Reserve.
Although disappointed with the final margin of the qualifying final clash, Comer said there were a lot of positive signs for the Blues going into another showdown with Colbinabbin.
Best for Mounts against Elmore were Aisling and Maeve Tupper, and Ivy Harrop.
Colbinabbin scored a 41-35 victory in Sunday’s elimination final on the Grasshoppers’ court.
Schedule for Saturday’s second semi-finals at Gunbower:
A-grade at 3.30pm: White Hills v Elmore.
A-reserve at 1pm: Elmore v Colbinabbin.
B-grade at 11.30am: Elmore v Colbinabbin.
B-reserve at 10am: Huntly v Leitchville-Gunbower.
17-and-under at 10am: Lockington Bamawm United v Mount Pleasant.
15-and-under at 8.45am: Lockington Bamawm United v Mount Pleasant.
13-and-under at 8.45am: Lockington Bamawm United v Elmore.
Schedule for Sunday’s first semi-finals at Toolleen:
A-grade at 2pm: Mount Pleasant v Colbinabbin.
A-reserve at 12.30pm: White Hills v Huntly.
B-grade at 12.30pm: Huntly v Mount Pleasant.
B-reserve at 11am: White Hills v Mount Pleasant.
17-and-under at 11am: White Hills v Leitchville-Gunbower.
15-and-under at 9.30am: North Bendigo v Elmore.
13-and-under: Leitchville-Gunbower v Heathcote.
Written by Nathan Dole.
