BY NATHAN DOLE
HEATHCOTE tightened its grip on the fourth rung of the A-grade netball ladder in Saturday’s 16th round of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
The Saints marked their trek to Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval by scoring a 22-goal win against Lockington Bamawm United.
Locked in a battle with Mount Pleasant and North Bendigo to decide fourth and fifth, Heathcote made a great start to lead 17-7 at quarter-time on the Cats’ court.
Led by the play of joint coaches Brooke Bolton and Kelsey Hayes at centre and goal defence respectively, Heathcote led 27-13 by half-time.
The Jessie Hardess-coached LBU lifted its play to score 10 goals in the third, but the Saints added 16.
It was goal-for-goal in a lot of the final term in which Heathcote added 14 goals and LBU scored 12.
At the final siren the Saints led 57-35 and more significantly gained a four-point break on Mount Pleasant who were both beaten.
The Carine Comer-coached Mount Pleasant faced a daunting task against the unbeaten Elmore.
Although the Blues had home-court advantage at Toolleen they could not stop the Allira Holmes and Gabe Richards-coached Elmore netting a 69-32 win.
North Bendigo was back home at Hibo Hotel Oval in Atkins Street to take on White Hills.
The Imogen Davies-coached North Bendigo worked hard, but battled to stop the Demons’ dominance through midcourt and into attack.
At the final whistle the Lauren Bowles-coached White Hills led 58-38.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks marked a hard-fought win against Leitchville Gunbower at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
The 100-goal tally was surpassed as the Kym Bell-coached Huntly won 54-47 against the Gemma Angove-coached LG Bombers.
Colbinabbin had the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Elmore 177 per cent, 56 points; White Hills 182, 48; Colbinabbin 138, 44; Heathcote 105, 28; Mount Pleasant 86, 24; North Bendigo 82, 24; Huntly 85, 20; Leitchville Gunbower 55, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 54, 4.
In next Saturday’s round 17 action, Heathcote meets North Bendigo in a crucial contest at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve.
Leitchville Gunbower takes on Colbinabbin at Gunbower.
Elmore is on its court against Lockington Bamawm United.
White Hills and the Harlowe Huntly Hawks meet in the clash of the neighbours at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street, White Hills.
Mount Pleasant has the bye.
Round 16 scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Mount Pleasant 22 lt Elmore 53, Lockington Bamawm United 50 d Heathcote 30, North Bendigo 23 lt White Hills 41, Huntly 58 d Leitchville Gunbower 53, Colbinabbin had the bye.
B-grade:
Mount Pleasant 37 lt Elmore 47, Lockington Bamawm United 53 d Heathcote 35, North Bendigo 46 lt White Hills 60, Huntly 60 d Leitchville Gunbower 36, Colbinabbin had the bye.
B-reserve:
Mount Pleasant 48 d Elmore 45, Lockington Bamawm United 51 d Heathcote 18, North Bendigo 34 lt White Hills 50, Huntly 79 d Leitchville Gunbower 15, Colbinabbin had the bye.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 42 d Elmore 30, Lockington Bamawm United 37 d Heathcote 32, North Bendigo 26 lt White Hills 31, Huntly 35 lt Leitchville Gunbower 37, Colbinabbin had the bye.
15-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 54 d Elmore 23, Lockington Bamawm United 57 d Heathcote 17, North Bendigo 22 lt White Hills 46, Huntly 55 d Leitchville Gunbower 13, Colbinabbin had the bye.
13-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 5 lt Elmore 29, Lockington Bawawm United 35 d Heathcote 13, North Bendigo 5 lt White Hills 32, Huntly 10 lt Leitchville Gunbower 17, Colbinabbin had the bye.
Ladders after 16 rounds:
A-reserve:
Elmore 165 per cent, 48 points; White Hills 134, 48; North Bendigo 115, 40; Colbinabbin 113, 32; Mount Pleasant 103, 28; Huntly 88, 24; Lockington Bamawm United 93, 20; Heathcote 67, 8; Leitchville Gunbower 65, 8.
B-grade:
White Hills 155 per cent, 52 points; Elmore 147, 44; Huntly 130, 44; Mount Pleasant 118, 32; Colbinabbin 89, 24; Lockington Bamawm United 88, 24; North Bendigo 86, 20; Leitchville Gunbower 72, 12; Heathcote 50, 4.
B-reserve:
Huntly 201 per cent, 56 points; White Hills 143, 44; Mount Pleasant 138, 44; North Bendigo 165, 40; Elmore 141, 28; Lockington Bamawm United 83, 24; Colbinabbin 66, 12; Heathcote 37, 8; Leitchville Gunbower 37, 0.
17-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 155 per cent, 56 points; Leitchville Gunbower 104, 38; Heathcote 133, 36; Mount Pleasant 114, 34; Colbinabbin 109, 34; Huntly 100, 30; Elmore 85, 16; White Hills 59, 8; North Bendigo 65, 4.
15-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 315 per cent, 60 points; Huntly 242, 48; White Hills 121, 40; Elmore 155, 36; Lockington Bamawm United 98, 32; Leitchville Gunbower 60, 16; North Bendigo 57, 16; Heathcote 42, 8; Colbinabbin 44, 0.
13-and-under:
Leitchville Gunbower 255 per cent, 56 points; Lockington Bamawm United 330, 48; Heathcote 136, 44; Huntly 181, 34; Colbinabbin 109, 28; Elmore 110, 22; White Hills 64, 16; Mount Pleasant 25, 8; North Bendigo 11, 0.