BY NATHAN DOLE
Grand final rematch on White Hills court
A REMATCH of last season’s A-grade netball grand finalists, White Hills and Colbinabbin highlights this Saturday’s fourth round in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
The match between the Demons and Grasshoppers on the Scott Street court in White Hills carries match of the day status in Anzac round.
In a hot start to the season the Lauren Bowles-coached White Hills has won by margins of 42, 34 and 34 goals in clashes with Huntly, Mount Pleasant and Lockington Bamawm United.
A tight-knit defensive trio at White Hills has limited the opposition to tallies of 28, 22 and 22 goals.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin has plenty of pace through mid-court and goalscoring power.
Being able to match the intensity White Hills plays at in every quarter will be crucial to the green and gold taking the points.
After starting the season with defeats to Elmore and Leitchville Gunbower, Colbinabbin hit back to score a 47-30 victory at home against Heathcote last round.
Another match which carries plenty of interest will be at Gunbower where a vastly-improved Leitchville Gunbower takes on Elmore.
The Caitlyn Hamilton-coached Leitchville Gunbower has won all three matches.
A win on North Bendigo’s court followed the Bombers home-court win against Colbinabbin in round two and 42-goal triumph at Lockington.
Elmore will be keen to get back on court after a third-round bye.
Jointly coached by Allira Holmes and Gabe Richards, Elmore took the points against Colbinabbin and North Bendigo.
It’s the clash of the Saints and Bulldogs as Heathcote faces North Bendigo at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
The Brooke Bolton and Kelsey Hayes-coached Heathcote took a two-nil record into last Saturday’s match at Colbinabbin, but could not stop the Grasshoppers’ final quarter surge.
The Kiralee Kinder and Stacey Kingdon-coached North Bendigo will aim to apply plenty of pressure from the first pass to chalk up their first win of ’24.
North Bendigo was held to a tally of 25 goals in last Saturday’s home-court loss to the LG Bombers.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks are on their court at Strauch Reserve to play Lockington Bamawm United.
The Kym Bell-coached Huntly was beaten by Mount Pleasant at Toolleen, and the Ash Cullen-LBU was outplayed by White Hills.
Mount Pleasant has the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
White Hills 239 per cent, 12 points; Leitchville Gunbower 181, 12; Elmore 117, 8; Heathcote 112, 8; Colbinabbin 102, 4; Mount Pleasant 80, 4; North Bendigo 63, 0; Lockington Bamawm United 51, 0; Huntly 44, 0.