BY NATHAN DOLE
Bloods stand up under Colbinabbin’s pressure
A CLOSELY-FOUGHT contest was played out between Elmore and Colbinabbin in Saturday’s start to A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
Last year’s preliminary finalists met on Elmore’s court for the twilight match.
Stung by last September’s loss to Colbinabbin which ended its run at back-to-back premierships, Elmore was determined to start well.
Among the key returns for the Bloods was co-coach Allira Holmes back on court in defence.
A skilful Colbinabbin team coached by Jen McIntyre kept the heat on all match.
Elmore led by three goals going into the final term and won the last by two.
At the final whistle the Bloods team jointly coached the Allira Holmes and goalshooter Gabe Richards led 57-52.
After meeting in last year’s elimination final, Mount Pleasant and Heathcote clashed on the new court at Toolleen.
It was the Blues who ended the Saints run in ’23.
The ’24 campaign began with a 53-33 victory for the Brooke Bolton and Kelsey Hayes-coached Saints.
A blow for Heathcote was a knee injury to Hayes who made a great start to the match at goal defence.
Best for the Saints include Bolton in the centre, Sophie Pica in attack and Jess Peck in defence.
Keeley Jones and Ava Nihill teamed well for the Anthea McCleary-coached Mount Pleasant.
Caitlyn Hamilton marked her coaching debut with Leitchville Gunbower by scoring an emphatic win against Lockington Bamawm United.
The Bombers dominated play on the Cats court at Nichol Trading Oval to win 66-24.
Despite being without coach Lauren Bowles, White Hills was too strong for the Harlowe Huntly Hawks at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
The Demons won 70-28 as Ellena Findlay took charge as coach for the day.
Bowles was in Brisbane watching younger brother Jayden Cowling win gold at the national men’s netball titles.
North Bendigo had the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Leitchville Gunbower 275 per cent, 4 points; White Hills 250, 4; Heathcote 160, 4; Elmore 109, 4; Colbinabbin 91, 0; Mount Pleasant 62, 0; Huntly 40, 0; Lockington Bamawm United 36, 0; North Bendigo 0, 0.
In next Saturday’s second round, Elmore hosts North Bendigo at 2.30pm.
Leitchville Gunbower is on its court at Gunbower to play Colbinabbin from 2.30pm.
Heathcote and Lockington Bamawm United play from 3pm on the Saints court at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
A twilight clash between White Hills and Mount Pleasant starts at 5.45pm on the Demons court at Scott Street in White Hills.
Huntly has the bye.
Round one scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Elmore 45 d Colbinabbin 36, Mount Pleasant 56 d Heathcote 32, LBU 47 d Leitchville Gunbower 46, Huntly 40 lt White Hills 47, North Bendigo bye.
B-grade:
Elmore 43 d Colbinabbin 40, Mount Pleasant 38 d Heathcote 24, LBU 37 lt Leitchville Gunbower 53, Huntly 34 lt White Hills 36, North Bendigo bye.
B-reserve:
Elmore 25 lt Colbinabbin 50, Mount Pleasant 45 d Heathcote 18, LBU 38 d Leitchville Gunbower 34, Huntly 36 lt White Hills 43, North Bendigo bye.
17-and-under:
Elmore 51 d Colbinabbin 18, Elmore 51 d Colbinabbin 18, Huntly 51 d White Hills 28, Mount Pleasant bye, North Bendigo bye.
15-and-under:
Elmore 34 d Colbinabbin 18, Mount Pleasant 72 d Heathcote 6, LBU 43 d Leitchville Gunbower 17, Huntly 31 lt White Hills 33, North Bendigo bye.
13-and-under:
Elmore 54 d Colbinabbin 1, Mount Pleasant 15 d Heathcote 9, LBU 39 d Leitchville Gunbower 6, Huntly 53 d White Hills 6, North Bendigo.
Standings after round one:
A-reserve:
Mount Pleasant 175 per cent, 4 points; Elmore 125, 4; White Hills 117, 4; LBU 102, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 97, 0; Huntly 85, 0; Colbinabbin 80, 0; Heathcote 57, 0; North Bendigo 0, 0.
B-grade:
Elmore 215, 4; Mount Pleasant 158, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 143, 4; White Hills 105, 4; Huntly 94, 0; LBU 69, 0; Heathcote 63, 0; Colbinabbin 46, 0; North Bendigo 0, 0.
B-reserve:
Mount Pleasant 250 per cent, 4 points; Colbinabbin 200, 4; LBU 158, 4; White Hills 119, 4; Huntly 83, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 63, 0; Elmore 50, 0; Heathcote 40, 0; North Bendigo 0, 0.
17-and-under:
Elmore 283, 4; LBU 245, 4; Huntly 182, 4; White Hills 54, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 40, 0; Colbinabbin 35, 0; Mount Pleasant 0, 0; North Bendigo 0, 0.
15-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 1200, 4; LBU 252, 4; Elmore 188, 4; White Hills 106, 4; Huntly 93, 0; Colbinabbin 52, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 39, 0; Heathcote 8, 0; North Bendigo 0, 0.
13-and-under:
Elmore 5400, 4; Huntly 883, 4; LBU 650, 4; Mount Pleasant 166, 4; Heathcote 60, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 15, 0; White Hills 11, 0; Colbinabbin 1, 4; North Bendigo 1, 0.