BY NATHAN DOLE
NORTH Bendigo marked a significant victory against Mount Pleasant in Saturday’s 10th round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
The Shellie Davies-coached North Bendigo needed to upset the Blues to stay within striking distance of the top five.
It was never going to be an easy task against a Carine Comer-coached Blues team which had a win-loss record of 5-3 and had beaten the red, white and blue in the season opener.
On Saturday it was North Bendigo which applied plenty of pressure in all thirds of the court and capitalised on chances to mark a 39-34 victory.
The win by the Bulldogs kept the heat on Heathcote as both teams vie to claim fifth place and a finals berth.
Heathcote was on its court at Barrack Reserve for a big match against Colbinabbin.
It was the Jen McIntyre-coached Grasshoppers who led 16-9 at quarter-time and then dominated the second term to lead 35-16 at the main break.
Heathcote fought back strongly to win the third term, 16-8, but it was the green and gold which went on to take the points in a 58-42 result.
Jointly coached by Brooke Bolton and Kelsey Hayes, Heathcote is locked on 16 points with North Bendigo, but 26 per cent clear in fifth place.
Top teams Elmore and White Hills added to their winning streaks.
The Elmore line-up was under pressure throughout the first half of its home match against the Kym Bell-coached Huntly.
A 23-8 third quarter put the Bloods well in control.
At the final siren the Allira Holmes and Gabe Richards-coached Elmore led 64-38.
White Hills again showed its attacking prowess on its court at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street.
The Lauren Bowles-coached Demons led 18-6 at quarter-time of the match against Leitchville Gunbower.
In the second White Hills poured in 23 goals and held LG to just four.
The Gemma Angove-coached Bombers worked hard, but the hot hands of the Demons team were outstanding in an 80-22 victory.
Lockington Bamawm United had the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Elmore 183 per cent, 36 points; White Hills 203, 32; Colbinabbin 148, 28; Mount Pleasant 91, 20; Heathcote 100, 16; North Bendigo 74, 16; Huntly 74, 4; Lockington Bamawm United 53, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 49, 4.
In next Saturday’s 11th round, Colbinabbin meets Elmore in a match between third and first on the Grasshoppers’ court at M.J. Morgan Reserve.
Lockington Bamawm United is at home to play North Bendigo.
Huntly is back home at Strauch Reserve to take on a Mount Pleasant team keen to rebound from defeat.
Leitchville Gunbower plays Heathcote at Gunbower.
White Hills has the bye.
Round 10 scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Mount Pleasant 34 lt North Bendigo 40, Heathcote 35 lt Colbinabbin 46, White Hills 64 d Leitchville Gunbower 29, Elmore 59 d Huntly 33, Lockington Bamawm United bye.
B-grade:
Mount Pleasant 50 d North Bendigo 24, Heathcote 36 lt Colbinabbin 44, White Hills 61 d Leitchville Gunbower 31, Elmore 50 d Huntly 33, Lockington Bamawm United bye.
B-reserve:
Mount Pleasant 32 lt North Bendigo 55, Heathcote 24 lt Colbinabbin 47, White Hills 49 d Leitchville Gunbower 23, Elmore 31 lt Huntly 47, Lockington Bamawm United bye.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 42 d North Bendigo 19, Heathcote 51 d Colbinabbin 26, White Hills 25 lt Leitchville Gunbower 32, Elmore 31 lt Huntly 51, Lockington Bamawm United bye.
15-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 75 d North Bendigo 18, Heathcote 39 d Colbinabbin 32, White Hills 39 d Leitchville Gunbower 19, Elmore 34 lt Huntly 40, Lockington Bamawm United bye.
13-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 23 d North Bendigo 6, Heathcote 24 d Colbinabbin 18, White Hills 24 lt Leitchville Gunbower 31, Elmore 21 dr Huntly 21, Lockington Bamawm United bye.
Ladders after 10 rounds:
A-reserve:
White Hills 151 per cent, 36 points; Elmore 162, 32; North Bendigo 119, 28; Huntly 90, 20; Colbinabbin 112, 16; Mount Pleasant 98, 12; Lockington Bamawm United 83, 8; Heathcote 65, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 62, 4.
B-grade:
White Hills 157 per cent, 32 points; Elmore 152, 28; Huntly 115, 24; Mount Pleasant 119, 20; North Bendigo 100, 20; Colbinabbin 87, 16; Lockington Bamawm United 81, 12; Leitchville Gunbower 65, 4; Heathcote 51, 4.
B-reserve:
Huntly 186 per cent, 36 points; North Bendigo 210, 28; White Hills 140, 28; Mount Pleasant 133, 24; Elmore 132, 16; Lockington Bamawm United 76, 12; Colbinabbin 69, 12; Heathcote 33, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 40, 0.
17-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 168 per cent, 32 points; Heathcote 147, 28; Huntly 104, 24; Leitchville Gunbower 97, 22; Colbinabbin 104, 20; Mount Pleasant 111, 18; Elmore 78, 8; North Bendigo 65, 4; White Hills 62, 4.
15-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 338 per cent, 36 points; Huntly 238, 32; White Hills 143, 28; Elmore 141, 20; Lockington Bamawm United 78, 16; Leitchville Gunbower 67, 12; North Bendigo 48, 8; Heathcote 44, 8; Colbinabbin 51, 0.
13-and-under:
Leitchville Gunbower 233 per cent, 32 points; Heathcote 160, 32; Lockington Bamawm United 379, 28; Huntly 173, 22; Colbinabbin 93, 16; Elmore 107, 14; White Hills 61, 8; Mount Pleasant 29, 8; North Bendigo 11, 0.