BY NATHAN DOLE
MOUNT Pleasant capped a brilliant final quarter fightback to beat Heathcote in Saturday’s sixth round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
In a match crucial for the Blues to strengthen its place in the top five, Heathcote was equally determined to improve on its 1-3 record.
The Saints led by five goals in the last quarter, but the Carine Comer-coached Mount Pleasant hit back strongly to regain the lead at less than two minutes to play.
A brilliant intercept by Matisse Perez on a Saints’ attack clinched a 38-37 win for the Blues.
Mount Pleasant has a 4-2 record going into next Saturday’s match with the unbeaten and ladder-leading Elmore on its court.
Although bitterly disappointed with the result, Heathcote co-coaches Brooke Bolton and Kelsey Hayes said there were again a lot of positive signs.
“We played really good netball for three quarters, but dropped away and Mounts was good enough to capitalise,” Bolton said.
“Being beaten by a goal hurts, but there were a lot of great signs for us,” she said of Heathcote’s play.
“It was not an easy preparation for the match against Mounts because of injury, illnesss and unavailability, so I was really proud of what the team did.
“We are yet to put a four quarter effort together.
“That’s a goal as coaches and players we are working hard to achieve and will be trying to do against Lockington Bamawm.”
The second-placed Colbinabbin was too strong for Huntly on the Hawks’ court at Specialist Breeders Australia Oval in Strauch Reserve.
The Grasshoppers won 62-45.
North Bendigo marked an important win at home at Hibo Hotel Oval in Atkins Street against Leitchville Gunbower.
The Shellie Davies-coached North Bendigo led 12-9 at quarter-time and had gained a 10-goal buffer by half-time after it won the second term, 13-6.
A 15-6 tally in the third was followed by North winning the last, 7-5, to cap a 43-26 victory.
North Bendigo is fifth in the premiership race and two wins clear of Huntly.
Upcoming matches for the team in red, white and blue are at White Hills, at home to play Heathcote, and then at Elmore.
The scoring power of White Hills was on show as the Demons played Lockington Bamawm United at Lockington.
The Lauren Bowles-coached Demons led 16-9 at quarter-time and then dominated the second, 23-4.
The Jessie Hardess-coached LBU was a lot more competitive in the third as it scored seven goals as the Demons added 13.
By the final siren White Hills led 81-23.
Elmore had the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL’s A-grade netball competition:
Elmore 163 per cent, 20 points; Colbinabbin 157, 20; White Hills 210, 16; Mount Pleasant 95, 16; North Bendigo 95, 12; Huntly 78, 4; Heathcote 77, 4; Lockington Bamawm United 61, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 47, 0.
In next Saturday’s seventh round, White Hills and North Bendigo meet at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street, White Hills.
Heathcote faces Lockington Bamawm United on the Saints’ court at Barrack Reserve.
Leitchville Gunbower is back at Leitchville to take on Huntly.
Elmore hosts Mount Pleasant at Elmore Recreation Reserve.
Colbinabbin has the bye.
Round six scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Mount Pleasant 44 d Heathcote 22, Huntly 45 d Colbinabbin 44, North Bendigo 55 d Leitchville Gunbower 38, Lockington Bamawm United 30 lt White Hills 33, Elmore bye.
B-grade:
Mount Pleasant 55 d Heathcote 18, Huntly 51 d Colbinabbin 26, North Bendigo 42 d Leitchville Gunbower 22, Lockington Bamawm United 34 lt White Hills 62, Elmore bye.
B-reserve:
Mount Pleasant 67 d Heathcote 17, Huntly 61 d Colbinabbin 24, North Bendigo 67 d Leitchville Gunbower 15, Lockington Bamawm United 28 lt White Hills 54, Elmore bye.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 38 lt Heathcote 40, Huntly 49 lt Colbinabbin 55, North Bendigo 21 lt Leitchville Gunbower 25, Lockington Bamawm United 60 d White Hills 25, Elmore bye.
15-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 69 d Heathcote 13, Huntly 66 d Colbinabbin 7, North Bendigo 28 lt Leitchville Gunbower 40, Lockington Bamawm United 28 lt White Hills 36, Elmore bye.
13-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 6 lt Heathcote 46, Huntly 24 d Colbinabbin 15, North Bendigo 5 lt Leitchville Gunbower 44, Lockington Bamawm United 52 d White Hills 2, Elmore bye.
Netball ladders after six rounds:
A-reserve:
White Hills 161 per cent, 20 points; North Bendigo 141, 20; Elmore 173, 16; Huntly 92, 12; Colbinabbin 103, 8; Mount Pleasant 98, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 86, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 64, 4; Heathcote 57, 4.
B-grade:
White Hills 193 per cent, 20 points; Huntly 134, 20; North Bendigo 131, 16; Elmore 134, 12; Mount Pleasant 110, 12; Lockington Bamawm United 88, 8; Colbinabbin 74, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 67, 4; Heathcote 37, 0.
B-reserve:
White Hills 168 per cent, 20 points; Huntly 160, 20; Mount Pleasant 161, 16; Elmore 172.7, 12; North Bendigo 172.3, 12; Lockington Bamawm United 72, 8; Colbinabbin 60, 4; Heathcote 34, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 39, 0.
17-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 197 per cent, 20 points; Heathcote 165, 20; Colbinabbin 105, 16; Huntly 107, 12; Mount Pleasant 101, 10; Leitchville Gunbower 75, 10; Elmore 89, 8; North Bendigo 65, 0; White Hills 53, 0.
15-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 338 per cent, 24 points; Huntly 243, 16; White Hills 129, 16; Elmore 180, 12; Lockington Bamawm United 85, 12; Leitchville Gunbower 61, 8; North Bendigo 57, 4; Heathcote 41, 4; Colbinabbin 44, 0.
13-and-under:
Leitchville Gunbower 249 per cent, 20 points; Heathcote 175, 20; Lockington Bamawm United 404, 16; Huntly 239, 16; Colbinabbin 116, 12; Elmore 84, 4; White Hills 48, 4; Mount Pleasant 25, 4; North Bendigo 8, 0.