BY NATHAN DOLE
THE Mount Pleasant Blues face a big test at Elmore in Saturday’s seventh round of A-grade netball action in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
Mount Pleasant has a 4-2 record following a dramatic last-quarter fightback to beat Heathcote on the Blues’ court at Toolleen last round.
The Carine Comer-coached Blues now take on the reigning premier which is unbeaten and back in action after the bye.
In pursuit of back-to-back premierships, Elmore has scored 356 goals.
Defence is a major strength of the Bloods whose tally is 218 against.
Jointly coached by Allira Holmes and Gabe Richards, Elmore will be confident of adding to its winning run.
The attacking prowess of White Hills will test North Bendigo when the Demons and Bulldogs meet at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street, White Hills.
The Lauren Bowles-coached White Hills has scored 345 matches in a 4-1 run to be third on the ladder.
Last round, White Hills scored 81 goals at Lockington.
The Demons also defend well.
A tally of 164 goals against includes 62 poured in by Elmore as it won the rematch of the 2022 grand finalists on the Bloods’ court in round four.
Key players in the red and black include Amy Morrissey, Alyssa Cole and Tegan Elliston.
North Bendigo is fifth and has a two-win break on Huntly and Heathcote after a 17-goal win against Leitchville-Gunbower last round.
The Bulldogs played well on their court at Hibo Hotel Oval in Atkins Street to mark a 43-26 win against the Bombers.
This Saturday’s task for the red, white and blue will be incredibly difficult.
A key factor for North Bendigo will be creating enough scoring chances against such a strong opponent.
Wins are a must for Huntly and Heathcote as they chase the fifth-placed North Bendigo.
The Kym Bell-coached Huntly will travel to Leitchville to play Leitchville Gunbower.
The Hawks are on the rebound from a 17-goal loss at home to the in-form Colbinabbin.
The Gemma Angove-coached Leitchville Gunbower is yet to claim premiership points this season, but the trip north will test the Hawks line-up.
Heathcote takes on Lockington Bamawm United on the Saints’ court at Barrack Reserve.
The disappointment of last Saturday’s narrow loss at Toolleen will spur the Brooke Bolton and Kelsey Hayes-coached Heathcote in this match.
The Saints have a 1-4 record and a loss to the Cats will make it extremely difficult for Heathcote to claim a finals berth.
After a breakthrough win at Leitchville in round five, the Jessie Hardess-coached Lockington Bamawm played a red-hot White Hills last round.
Colbinabbin has the bye.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Grasshoppers are at home at M.J. Morgan Oval on June 3 to play Leitchville Gunbower.
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.