BY NATHAN DOLE
Bloods tie contest with White Hills
A DRAWN match between Elmore and Winslow White Hills Demons highlighted the 15th round of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL’s A-grade netball action on Saturday.
The league’s premiers of the past two seasons played out a high-scoring match on Elmore’s court at Elmore Recreation Reserve.
Players faced gusty conditions all afternoon.
It was the Allira Holmes and Gabe Richards-coached Elmore which charged to a 13-10 lead by quarter-time.
White Hills fought back to win the second term, 14-12.
Scores were locked on 38-all going into the final quarter.
At the final siren the scoreboard showed both teams on 53 goals.
The Lauren Bowles-coached White Hills ended the round six points clear of Colbinabbin in the fight to grab top spot and through to the second semi-final.
Leitchville Gunbower was too strong for Heathcote at Leitchville.
The Caitlyn Hamilton-coached LG handled the blustery conditions much better than the Saints.
By three quarter-time the Brooke Bolton and Kelsey Hayes-coached Heathcote had eight goals in the board.
Heathcote lifted to win the last term, 15-9, but it was the Bombers who took the points in a 33-23 victory.
Both teams are likely to meet in the elimination final on August 18.
Colbinabbin dominated its match with Mount Pleasant on the Grasshoppers’ court at M.J. Morgan Oval.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Grasshoppers showed they will again be right in the race for the premiership as they netted a 66-36 victory against the Blues.
It was another tough hit-out for the Anthea McCleary-coached Mount Pleasant against the green and gold.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks turned a three-goal deficit at the start of the final term into a one-goal win on North Bendigo’s court at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street.
Huntly led 8-6 at quarter-time before the Kiralee Kinder and Stacey Kingdon-coached North Bendigo took charge to win the next term, 12-7.
Both teams scored nine goals in the third.
The Kym Bell-coached Hawks finished strongly to score 11 goals as it held the red, white and blue to a tally of seven goals in the last term.
At the siren the brown and gold led 35-34 and in the process jumped above North Bendigo to be seventh on the ladder.
Lockington Bamawm United had the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
White Hills 158 per cent, 50 points; Colbinabbin 144, 44; Elmore 122, 42; Leitchville Gunbower 126, 36; Heathcote 93, 28; Mount Pleasant 78, 12; Huntly 61, 12; North Bendigo 72, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 66, 8.
In next Saturday’s 16th round, Winslow White Hills Demons will be on their Scott Street court to play Leitchville Gunbower.
Mount Pleasant takes on North Bendigo at Toolleen.
Harlowe Huntly Hawks meet Elmore at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
Lockington Bamawm United faces Colbinabbin at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval.
Heathcote has the bye.
Round 15 scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Elmore 34 lt White Hills 41, Leitchville Gunbower 30 d Heathcote 25, Colbinabbin 46 d Mount Pleasant 41, North Bendigo 24 lt Huntly 33, Lockington Bamawm United had the bye.
B-grade:
Elmore 21 lt White Hills 50, Leitchville Gunbower 42 d Heathcote 27, Colbinabbin 29 lt Mount Pleasant 30, North Bendigo 42 lt Huntly 48, Lockington Bamawm United had the bye.
B-reserve:
Elmore 31 lt White Hills 63, Leitchville Gunbower 33 d Heathcote 14, Colbinabbin 21 lt Mount Pleasant 50, North Bendigo 30 lt Huntly 42, Lockington Bamawm United had the bye.
17-and-under:
Elmore 42 d White Hills 26, Leitchville Gunbower d Heathcote (forfeit), Colbinabbin 25 lt Mount Pleasant 54, North Bendigo 22 lt Huntly 44, Lockington Bamawm United had the bye.
15-and-under:
Elmore 27 lt White Hills 34, Leitchville Gunbower 19 lt Heathcote 20, Colbinabbin 13 lt Mount Pleasant 58, North Bendigo 6 lt Huntly 74, Lockington Bamawm United had the bye.
13-and-under:
Elmore 33 d White Hills 10, Leitchville Gunbower 23 d Heathcote 8, Colbinabbin 12 lt Mount Pleasant 22, North Bendigo 3 lt Huntly 41, Lockington Bamawm United had the bye.
League ladders:
A-reserve:
White Hills 129 per cent, 52 points; Elmore 133, 40; Huntly 111, 34; Lockington Bamawm United 102, 30; Colbinabbin 103, 28; Leitchville Gunbower 98, 24; Mount Pleasant 97, 24; North Bendigo 79, 8; Heathcote 61, 0.
B-grade:
Leitchville Gunbower 156 per cent, 52 points; White Hills 132, 52; Huntly 126, 36; Lockington Bamawm United 114, 32; North Bendigo 85, 16; Mount Pleasant 82, 16; Heathcote 78, 16; Colbinabbin 69, 12; Elmore 81, 8.
B-reserve:
White Hills 175 per cent, 52 points; Lockington Bamawm United 123, 40; Huntly 119, 36; Mount Pleasant 106, 28; North Bendigo 92, 20; Colbinabbin 72, 20; Leitchville Gunbower 79, 18; Elmore 74, 14; Heathcote 77, 12.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 166 per cent, 40 points; Huntly 131, 36; Lockington Bamawm United 134, 34; Elmore 133, 34; Leitchville Gunbower 93, 16; White Hills 78, 14; North Bendigo 60, 6; Colbinabbin 58, 4.
15-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 284 per cent, 52 points; Lockington Bamawm United 156, 42; White Hills 136, 40; Elmore 114, 36; Huntly 131, 26; Heathcote 70, 20; Leitchville Gunbower 92, 16; Colbinabbin 64, 8; North Bendigo 13, 0.
13-and-under:
Leitchville Gunbower 406 per cent, 48 points; Lockington Bamawm United 327, 48; Elmore 189, 36; Huntly 158, 36; Heathcote 115, 28; Mount Pleasant 83, 24; Colbinabbin 39, 12; North Bendigo 27, 4; White Hills 26, 4.