BY NATHAN DOLE
Teams fine-tune game in run to finals
ALL A-grade netball teams bound for next weekend’s start to Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL finals were in fine form in Saturday’s 18th round in the home-and-away series.
Last season’s runner-up, Colbinabbin warmed up for a qualifying final by scoring a 70-39 win against North Bendigo.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Grasshoppers were slick through mid-court and a strong attack capped off many moves.
It was a great effort by the Kiralee Kinder and Stacey Kingdon-coached North Bendigo to almost hit the 40-goal mark on Colbinabbin’s court at M.J. Morgan Oval.
Colbinabbin’s focus will now be on Saturday’s qualifying final against Elmore at Lockington.
Elmore poured in 70 goals in Saturday’s match on Lockington Bamawm United’s court at Lockington.
The Allira Holmes and Gabe Richards-coached Elmore charged to a 21-6 lead by quarter against the Cats.
A closely-fought second term went the way of the Bloods, 17-12.
Elmore then won the third, 20-6.
The Ash Cullen-coached LBU worked incredibly hard in its last quarter of the season to outscore the Bloods, 13-12.
At the final siren Elmore led 70-37.
Closest result of the afternoon was at Toolleen where Mount Pleasant took on Leitchville Gunbower.
The Anthea McCleary-coached Mount Pleasant played well to keep the pressure on the Bombers for most of the contest.
A Leitchville Gunbower team coached by Caitlin Hamilton won 48-41 in the lead-up to next Sunday’s elimination final against Heathcote at Leitchville.
After a closely-fought first half, Heathcote took control to record a 23-win on the Harlowe Huntly Hawks court at Strauch Reserve.
The Kym Bell-coached Hawks played well to be within a goal of the Saints at quarter-time.
Term two went Heathcote’s way, 13-12.
A two-goal buffer for the Brooke Bolton and Kelsey Hayes-coached Saints became 15 by the end of the third quarter.
As the Saints poured in 18 goals the strong defensive efforts limited the brown and gold to a tally of five goals.
The Saints led 43-28 at the start of the final and went on to record a 57-34 victory.
The Winslow White Hills Demons had the bye.
It’s an extended break for the Lauren Bowles-coached White Hills which ends the home-and-away series on top of the ladder and does not play until the second semi on August 24.
The Demons will start their finals campaign against Elmore or Colbinabbin.
Final standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
White Hills 153 per cent, 56 points; Elmore 135, 54; Colbinabbin 148, 52; Leitchville Gunbower 128, 46; Heathcote 95, 32; Mount Pleasant 78, 16; Lockington Bamawm United 66, 12; Huntly 57, 12; North Bendigo 72, 8.
Schedule for Saturday’s qualifying finals at Lockington:
13-and-under at 8.45am: Lockington Bamawm United v Huntly.
15-and-under at 10am: Lockington Bamawm United v White Hills.
17-and-under at 8.45am: Huntly v Lockington Bamawm United.
B-grade at 11.15am: White Hills v Huntly.
B-reserve at 12.30pm: Lockington Bamawm United v Huntly.
A-reserve at 1.45pm: Elmore v Huntly.
A-grade at 3pm: Elmore v Colbinabbin.
Schedule for Sunday’s elimination finals at Leitchville:
13-and-under at 9.30am: Elmore v Heathcote.
17-and-under at 9.30am: Elmore v White Hills.
15-and-under at 11am: Huntly v Elmore.
B-grade at 11am: Lockington Bamawm United v North Bendigo.
B-reserve at 12.30pm: Mount Pleasant v North Bendigo.
A-reserve at 12.30pm: Colbinabbin v Lockington Bamawm United.
A-grade at 2pm: Leitchville Gunbower v Heathcote.
Round 18 scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Colbinabbin 51 d North Bendigo 43, Lockington Bamawm United 36 lt Elmore 58, Mount Pleasant 50 lt Leitchville Gunbower 60, Huntly 62 d Heathcote 20, White Hills had the bye.
B-grade:
Colbinabbin 36 lt North Bendigo 56, Lockington Bamawm United 64 d Elmore 29, Mount Pleasant 35 lt Leitchville Gunbower 61, Huntly 39 d Heathcote 33, White Hills had the bye.
B-reserve:
Colbinabbin 37 lt North Bendigo 48, Lockington Bamawm United 55 d Elmore 39, Mount Pleasant 40 d Leitchville Gunbower 30, Huntly 44 d Heathcote 33, White Hills had the bye.
17-and-under:
Colbinabbin 25 lt North Bendigo 50, Lockington Bamawm United 36 lt Elmore 48, Mount Pleasant 55 d Leitchville Gunbower 22, Huntly d Heathcote (forfeit), White Hills had the bye.
15-and-under:
Colbinabbin 55 d North Bendigo 13, Lockington Bamawm United 56 d Elmore 26, Mount Pleasant 63 d Leitchville Gunbower 23, Huntly 63 d Heathcote 37, White Hills had the bye.
13-and-under:
Colbinabbin 36 d North Bendigo 20, Lockington Bamawm United 33 d Elmore 22, Mount Pleasant 7 lt Leitchville Gunbower 50, Huntly 38 d Heathcote 21, White Hills had the bye.
League ladders:
A-reserve:
White Hills 138 per cent, 60 points; Elmore 136, 52; Huntly 114, 38; Colbinabbin 105, 36; Lockington Bamawm United 98, 34; Leitchville Gunbower 96, 32; Mount Pleasant 95, 28; North Bendigo 79, 8; Heathcote 58, 0.
B-grade:
Leitchville Gunbower 153 per cent, 60 points; White Hills 128, 56; Huntly 127, 48; Lockington Bamawm United 122, 44; North Bendigo 89, 24; Mount Pleasant 83, 20; Heathcote 77, 16; Colbinabbin 68, 12; Elmore 75, 8.
B-reserve:
White Hills 179 per cent, 60 points; Lockington Bamawm United 126, 52; Huntly 120, 44; Mount Pleasant 104, 36; North Bendigo 93, 24; Elmore 80, 22; Colbinabbin 72, 20; Leitchville Gunbower 73, 18; Heathcote 75, 12.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 181 per cent, 52 points; Huntly 131, 44; Lockington Bamawm United 141, 42; Elmore 120, 38; White Hills 81, 18; Leitchville Gunbower 83, 16; North Bendigo 62, 10; Colbinabbin 55, 4.
15-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 321 per cent, 64 points; Lockington Bamawm United 180, 54; White Hills 142, 48; Huntly 144, 38; Elmore 90, 36; Heathcote 67, 20; Leitchville Gunbower 77, 16; Colbinabbin 70, 12; North Bendigo 12, 0.
13-and-under:
Leitchville Gunbower 452 per cent, 60 points; Lockington Bamawm United 324, 60; Huntly 145, 44; Elmore 165, 40; Heathcote 118, 32; Mount Pleasant 73, 28; Colbinabbin 42, 16; North Bendigo 30, 4; White Hills 22, 4.