BY NATHAN DOLE
BEATEN by a goal last time, Heathcote’s A-grade netball team will be fired up for Saturday’s match against Mount Pleasant in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
The round 15 showdown between the Saints and Blues will be on Heathcote’s court at Barrack Reserve.
When these teams met in round six it was the Carine Comer-coached Mount Pleasant which staged a final-quarter fightback to beat the Saints, 38-37.
Memories of that match will spur on both teams, especially a Heathcote line-up jointly coached by Brooke Bolton and Kelsey Hayes.
It’s a crucial match for both teams who are fourth and fifth on the ladder.
The Blues and Saints are both on the rebound from defeat after they faced top teams White Hills and Elmore last round.
Mounts went down to the Demons by 23 goals at Toolleen, and Heathcote was beaten, 59-39 in the clash with the undefeated Elmore.
A win for the Blues on Saturday will be their seventh of the season.
After the match at Heathcote the run for Mounts is Elmore, home; bye; and Lockington Bamawm United at home.
Heathcote is just as desperate for the points as it fights North Bendigo for a top-five finish and finals position.
White Hills is home at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street to play Lockington Bamawm United.
The Lauren Bowles-coached Demons attack was in hot form against LBU in round six.
On that occasion the Demons won 81-23 at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval.
White Hills has plenty of attacking options, a skilful mid-court, and strong defensive set-up to take on the Jessie Hardess-coached LBU.
Leitchville Gunbower and North Bendigo clash at Gunbower.
The Gemma Angove-coached Bombers marked their second win of the season last round.
A closely-fought contest between Leitchville Gunbower and Lockington Bamawm United at Lockington ended in a 36-32 win for the visitors.
North Bendigo is on the rebound from a 27-goal loss at home to Colbinabbin.
It’s a must-win game for the Imogen Davies-coached North Bendigo at Gunbower.
Colbinabbin is home at M.J. Morgan Oval to play the Harlowe Huntly Hawks.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Grasshoppers played brilliant netball at North Bendigo’s Hibo Hotel Oval last round.
The Kym Bell-coached Hawks are back in action after the bye.
An upset win for the brown and gold will keep Huntly in the finals race, especially if Heathcote and North Bendigo are beaten.
Elmore has the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition after 14 rounds:
Elmore 175 per cent, 52 points; White Hills 179, 40; Colbinabbin 138, 40; Mount Pleasant 92, 24; Heathcote 99, 20; North Bendigo 78, 20; Huntly 83, 16; Leitchville Gunbower 53, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 55, 4.