BY NATHAN DOLE
Cats aim to upset ‘Hoppers at Colbinabbin
THE Lockington Bamawm United Cats can keep the heat on the top five by beating Colbinabbin in this Saturday’s seventh round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
After last weekend’s bye, LBU’s squad makes its to Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval.
A showdown between the Grasshoppers and Cats starts at 2.30pm.
Three wins and three defeats have Colbinabbin in fourth place on the ladder.
A two-three record has the Cats in fifth place, a win and 18 per cent behind Heathcote which has the bye this round.
Will not be an easy task for the Ash Cullen-coached LBU to upstage Colbinabbin on its court.
After a nil-two start, the Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin has hit back to win its home game against Heathcote in round three by 17 goals.
A week later and the Grasshoppers finished within two goals of reigning premier, Winslow White Hills Demons on their court at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street.
Latest hit-outs for Colbinabbin ended in a 34-win at home against Huntly and then a 62-33 victory in last Saturday’s clash with Mount Pleasant at Toolleen.
Before the bye the LBU Cats had won at Huntly by four goals and then marked a 62-37 win against Mount Pleasant at Lockington.
Another big match on Saturday will be at Gunbower where Leitchville Gunbower takes on the unbeaten White Hills.
It’s second against first.
Been a great run by the Caitlin Hamilton-coached Leitchville Gunbower which won last Saturday’s match on Heathcote’s court at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve by four goals.
The Bombers won their opening three games before a home-court clash with Elmore in round four.
The LG and Elmore showdown ended in a 70-57 victory for the visitors.
Massive test for Leitchville Gunbower against the unbeaten reigning premier.
The Lauren Bowles-coached White Hills dominated last Saturday’s home game against Elmore.
By the final siren the Demons led 71-33.
Teams are just one-third into an 18-round home and away series, but White Hills has shown it’s going to take some stopping.
North Bendigo has sights on back-to-back wins when it takes on Mount Pleasant at Bendigo Club Oval.
A North Bendigo line-up jointly coached by Kiralee Kinder and Stacey Kingdon has home-court advantage at the Atkins Street ground.
The Bulldogs broke through for their first victory of ’24 as they won last Saturday’s match against the Harlowe Huntly Hawks by 16 goals.
North Bendigo and Mount Pleasant are on identical records of one-four.
The Anthea McCleary-coached Blues will be determined to make a strong start and to put the red, white and blue under pressure.
On the rebound from a 38-goal loss, Elmore is at home to take on the Harlowe Huntly Hawks.
The Allira Holmes and Gabe Richards-coached Bloods had their unbeaten run broken as they were outgunned at White Hills.
Huge challenge for the Kym Bell-coached Huntly, especially away from home.
Heathcote has the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
White Hills 180 per cent, 24 points; Leitchville Gunbower 134, 16; Elmore 108, 16; Colbinabbin 124, 12; Heathcote 96, 12; Lockington Bamawm United 77, 8; North Bendigo 77, 4; Mount Pleasant 68, 4; Huntly 55, 0.