BY NATHAN DOLE
TOP-THREE teams White Hills and Colbinabbin played out a thrilling A-grade netball match in Saturday’s ninth round of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
White Hills was on its court at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street as second played third.
The Lauren Bowles-coached White Hills led 21-14 at quarter-time, but Colbinabbin hit back to win the second term, 14-9.
A fired-up Demons surged to a six-goal lead at a quarter to play.
Although the Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin won the final term, 13-10, White Hills took the points in a 54-51 result.
It took until the final term for Mount Pleasant to break clear of a persistent Lockington Bamawm United at Lockington.
The LBU Cats made a brilliant start to lead 15-9 at quarter-time.
The Carine Comer-coached Blues struck back to win the second term, 15-7.
It was a goal for goal throughout the third as the Jessie Hardess-coached LBU kept the pressure on.
Mounts led 32-31 at the start of the final term.
In the last it was the Blues who capitalised on their attacking moves and some defensive intercepts to surge to a 45-37 victory.
Heathcote kept its winning run rolling.
The Saints were back on their court at Barrack Reserve to take on Huntly.
Jointly coached by Brooke Bolton and Kelsey Hayes, Heathcote was aiming for a third win in a row.
The Saints led 12-6 at quarter-time and then capped off some defensive intercepts and turnovers to win the second quarter, 18-7.
The Kym Bell-coached Huntly hit back to win the third term, 15-13, but it was the Saints who marched on to a 54-37 victory.
Elmore won every quarter of its home game against North Bendigo.
Jointly coached by Allira Holmes and Gabe Richards, Elmore led 20-7 at quarter-time and 37-20 by the main break.
Term three was to be the reigning premier’s best as it scored 20 goals and held the red, white and blue to just seven.
The Shellie Davies-coached North Bendigo kept working hard, but an Elmore attack which included Abbey Hromenko in her 100th club game was too strong.
At the final siren the Bloods led 75-35.
Leitchville Gunbower had the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Elmore 185 per cent, 32 points; White Hills 190, 28; Colbinabbin 150, 24; Mount Pleasant 92, 20; Heathcote 104, 16; North Bendigo 71, 12; Huntly 76, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 53, 4; Lockington Bamawm United 53, 4.
The second half of the home-and-away series starts next Saturday.
A highlight of the 10th round will be Heathcote against Colbinabbin on the Saints’ court at Barrack Reserve.
Mount Pleasant is back at Toolleen to play North Bendigo.
Elmore hosts Huntly.
White Hills and Leitchville-Gunbower meet at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street, White Hills.
Lockington Bamawm United has the bye.
Round nine scoreboard:
A-reserve:
White Hills 46 d Colbinabbin 40, Lockington Bamawm United 35 lt Mt Pleasant 48, Heathcote 29 lt Huntly 40, Elmore 42 d North Bendigo 30, Leitchville Gunbower bye.
B-grade:
White Hills 43 lt Colbinabbin 44, Lockington Bamawm United 34 lt Mt Pleasant 58, Heathcote 12 lt Huntly 30, Elmore 66 d North Bendigo 26, Leitchville Gunbower bye.
B-reserve:
White Hills 77 d Colbinabbin 21, Lockington Bamawm United 32 lt Mt Pleasant 37, Heathcote 13 lt Huntly 80, Elmore 35 lt North Bendigo 53, Leitchville Gunbower bye.
17-and-under:
White Hills 20 lt Colbinabbin 57, Lockington Bamawm United 34 d Mt Pleasant 32, Heathcote 36 lt Huntly 38, Elmore 27 lt North Bendigo 33, Leitchville Gunbower bye.
15-and-under:
White Hills 44 d Colbinabbin 30, Heathcote 15 lt Huntly 72, Lockington Bamawm United 11 lt Mt Pleasant 54, Elmore 56 d North Bendigo 33, Leitchville Gunbower bye.
13-and-under:
White Hills 17 lt Colinabbin 28, Lockington Bamawm United 54 d Mt Pleasant 3, Heathcote 21 d Huntly 19, Elmore 21 d North Bendigo 4, Leitchville Gunbower bye.
Ladders after nine rounds:
A-reserve:
White Hills 143 per cent, 32 points; Elmore 160, 28; North Bendigo 120, 24; Huntly 97, 20; Colbinabbin 110, 12; Mt Pleasant 100, 12; Lockington Bamawm United 83, 8; Leitchville Gunbower 65, 4; Heathcote 63, 4.
B-grade:
White Hills 152 per cent, 28 points; Huntly 135, 28; Elmore 152, 24; North Bendigo 109, 20; Mt Pleasant 112, 16; Colbinabbin 83, 12; Lockington Bamawm United 81, 12; Leitchville Gunbower 68, 4; Heathcote 43, 0.
B-reserve:
Huntly 191 per cent, 32 points; North Bendigo 217, 24; Mt Pleasant 150, 24; White Hills 133, 24; Elmore 143, 16; Lockington Bamawm United 76, 12; Colbinabbin 61, 8; Heathcote 31, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 39, 0.
17-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 168 per cent, 32 points; Heathcote 24, 142; Colbinabbin 113, 20; Huntly 98, 20; Leitchville Gunbower 94, 18; Mt Pleasant 104, 14; Elmore 81, 8; North Bendigo 68, 4; White Hills 60, 4.
15-and-under:
Mt Pleasant 327 per cent, 32 points; Huntly 264, 28; White Hills 138, 24; Elmore 151, 20; Lockington Bamawm United 78, 16; Leitchville Gunbower 69, 12; North Bendigo 53, 8; Heathcote 37, 4; Colbinabbin 48, 0.
13-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 379 per cent, 28 points; Leitchville Gunbower 263, 28; Heathcote 163, 28; Huntly 189, 20; Colbinabbin 96, 16; Elmore 108, 12; White Hills 58, 8; Mt Pleasant 21, 4; North Bendigo 10, 0.