BY NATHAN DOLE
Grasshoppers leap to second in premiership race
VICTORY by 10 goals against Elmore has lifted Colbinabbin to second on the A-grade netball ladder after Saturday’s round 12 action.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin was in superb touch on its court at M.J. Morgan Oval.
Despite the cold and wet conditions it was a high-scoring match between the Grasshoppers and Bloods.
Last September it was Colbinabbin which ended Elmore’s run at back-to-back premierships as it won the preliminary final.
When these clubs met in round one it was the Allira Holmes and Gabe Richards-coached Elmore which took the points under lights on its court.
This time the green and gold charged to a 63-53 victory.
After being locked on eight-all at quarter-time, Heathcote took control of its clash with Mount Pleasant on the Saints’ court at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
The Saints won the second term, 13-3, and led 33-18 at a quarter to play.
A Mount Pleasant team coached by Anthea McCleary worked hard to win the last, 13-8.
At the final siren the Brooke Bolton and Kelsey Hayes-coached Heathcote led 41-31.
A sixth victory has given the fifth-placed Saints a 16-point lead on North Bendigo, Mount Pleasant and Lockington Bamawm United.
At Leitchville it was the Caitlyn Hamilton-coached Leitchville Gunbower which passed the 60-goal mark against Lockington Bamawm United.
The Bombers won 61-30 against the Ash Cullen-coached LBU and in the process climbed to the third rung and will hold the crucial double chance should it stay there at finals time.
Unbeaten as it chases back-to-back A-grade premierships, Winslow White Hills Demons were in hot form on their Scott Street court against the Harlowe Huntly Hawks.
The Lauren Bowles-coached White Hills raced to a 19-5 lead by quarter-time.
In the second the Demons poured in 13 goals as it held the brown and gold to a tally of three.
It was another ruthless performance by the red and black as it led 63-18 at the final siren.
North Bendigo had the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
White Hills 175 per cent, 44 points; Colbinabbin 137, 32; Leitchville Gunbower 133, 32; Elmore 116, 32; Heathcote 99, 24; North Bendigo 78, 8; Mount Pleasant 76, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 64, 8; Huntly 55, 4.
Highlight of next Saturday’s round 13 action will be Colbinabbin on its court at M.J. Morgan Oval against White Hills in a rematch of the ’23 grand finalists.
It’s third against fourth as Leitchville Gunbower hosts Elmore at Leitchville.
North Bendigo will be fighting to keep finals hopes alive when it hosts Heathcote at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street.
Lockington Bamawm United faces Huntly at Nichol Trading Oval in Lockington.
Mount Pleasant has the bye.
Round 12 scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Colbinabbin 37 lt Elmore 46, Heathcote 32 lt Mount Pleasant 41, Leitchville Gunbower 40 lt Lockington Bamawm United 47, White Hills 39 d Huntly 29, North Bendigo had the bye.
B-grade:
Colbinabbin 37 d Elmore 32, Heathcote 38 lt Mount Pleasant 51, Leitchville Gunbower 56 d Lockington Bamawm United 53, White Hills 34 d Huntly 28, North Bendigo had the bye.
B-reserve:
Colbinabbin 53 d Elmore 32, Heathcote 34 lt Mount Pleasant 43, Leitchville Gunbower 19 lt Lockington Bamawm United 37, White Hills 55 d Huntly 35, North Bendigo had the bye.
17-and-under:
Colbinabbin 34 lt Elmore 63, Heathcote forfeit to Mount Pleasant, Leitchville Gunbower 25 lt Lockington Bamawm United 49, White Hills 22 lt Huntly 52, North Bendigo had the bye.
15-and-under:
Colbinabbin 16 lt Elmore 32, Heathcote 17 lt Mount Pleasant 61, Leitchville Gunbower 25 lt Lockington Bamawm United 49, White Hills 39 d Huntly 25, North Bendigo had the bye.
13-and-under:
Colbinabbin 12 lt Elmore 37, Heathcote 29 d Mount Pleasant 20, Leitchville Gunbower 21 d Lockington Bamawm United 14, White Hills 3 lt Huntly 47, North Bendigo had the bye.
League ladders:
A-reserve:
White Hills 131, per cent, 40 points; Elmore 139, 32; Huntly 114, 28; Mount Pleasant 100, 24; Lockington Bamawm United 99, 24; Colbinabbin 102, 20; Leitchville Gunbower 99, 20; North Bendigo 77, 4; Heathcote 58, 0.
B-grade:
Leitchville Gunbower 158 per cent, 44 points; White Hills 127, 40; Lockington Bamawm United 115, 28; Huntly 128, 24; Mount Pleasant 82, 12; North Bendigo 81, 12; Heathcote 76, 12; Colbinabbin 68, 12; Elmore 86, 8.
B-reserve:
White Hills 166 per cent, 40 points; Lockington Bamawm United 131, 36; Huntly 115, 24; Mount Pleasant 101, 24; Colbinabbin 83, 20; North Bendigo 100, 16; Heathcote 77, 12; Leitchville Gunbower 72, 12; Elmore 70, 8.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 171 per cent, 36 points; Huntly 123, 28; Lockington Bamawm United 141, 26; Elmore 130, 26; Leitchville Gunbower 95, 16; White Hills 72, 6; North Bendigo 60, 6; Colbinabbin 59, 4.
15-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 291 per cent, 44 points; Lockington Bamawm United 176, 38; Elmore 115, 28; White Hills 115, 28; Huntly 117, 18; Leitchville Gunbower 93, 16; Heathcote 57, 12; Colbinabbin 74, 8; North Bendigo 15, 0.
13-and-under:
Leitchville Gunbower 437 per cent, 40 points; Lockington Bamawm United 352, 40; Elmore 203, 28; Huntly 142, 24; Heathcote 117, 24; Mount Pleasant 85, 20; Colbinabbin 31, 8; North Bendigo 27, 4; White Hills 17, 0.