BY NATHAN DOLE
Favourites take points in A-grade netball clashes
THE favourites marked a clean-sweep across all four A-grade netball matches in Saturday’s ninth round of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
For the first time this season, Gunbower’s court was used for premiership matches as Leitchville Gunbower hosted Mount Pleasant.
The Caitlyn Hamilton-coached Leitchville Gunbower marked a 61-38 victory.
At the halfway mark of the home and away series the LG Bombers are in third place.
The Anthea McCleary-coached Mount Pleasant is in seventh place and two wins adrift of the Heathcote Saints.
It was a high-scoring match at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street as North Bendigo faced Colbinabbin.
The Kiralee Kinder and Stacee Kingdon-coached North Bendigo worked hard to be within three goals of the Grasshoppers at quarter-time.
In the second the Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin upped its pressure and run.
After being in front, 13-10 at the first break the Hoppers kicked away to lead 30-23 by half-time.
Colbinabbin won the next quarter, 16-10.
The Bulldogs fought on to win the last term, 17-16, but it was the green and gold which took the points in a 65-50 victory.
Heathcote strengthened its grip on the fifth rung by scoring a 25-goal win on its court at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve against the Harlowe Huntly Hawks.
A Heathcote line-up jointly coached by Brooke Bolton and Kelsey Hayes led 15-8 at half-time.
The Kym Bell-coached Huntly hit back to win the second term, 8-7.
In the third it was the Saints who surged clear.
Heathcote scored 15 goals and held the brown and gold to a tally of four goals.
By the final siren the Saints led 48-23.
Elmore won every quarter on its way to a 51-38 victory at home against Lockington Bamawm United.
The Allira Holmes and Gabe Richards-coached Elmore won a closely-fought opening term, 12-10.
The Bloods won the next, 11-8.
Elmore’s pressure and goalscoring power was to the fore in the third quarter as it gained an 11-goal buffer at a quarter to play against the Ash Cullen-coached LBU.
The Bloods went on to win 51-38 against the Cats.
White Hills had the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
White Hills 165 per cent, 32 points; Elmore 118, 28; Leitchville Gunbower 136, 24; Colbinabbin 135, 20; Heathcote 100, 16; North Bendigo 81, 8; Mount Pleasant 74, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 72, 8; Huntly 54, 0.
North Bendigo: Kiralee Kinder, Stacey Kingdon.
The Heathcote DFNL takes a break for the King’s Birthday holiday weekend.
Round 10 will be played on June 15.
A big match will be at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve where the Saints take on Colbinabbin.
Play is at Leitchville for the first time this season when Leitchville Gunbower takes on North Bendigo.
The Winslow White Hills Demons play Lockington Bamawm United at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street.
Harlowe Huntly Hawks are up against Mount Pleasant at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
Elmore has the bye.
Round nine scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Leitchville Gunbower 56 d Mount Pleasant 44, North Bendigo 31 lt Colbinabbin 34, Heathcote 29 lt Huntly 55, Elmore 57 d Lockington Bamawm United 41, White Hills bye.
B-grade:
Leitchville Gunbower 65 d Mount Pleasant 46, North Bendigo 40 d Colbinabbin 28, Heathcote 27 lt Huntly 48, Elmore 48 lt Lockington Bamawm United 55, White Hills bye.
B-reserve:
Leitchville Gunbower 43 d Mount Pleasant 30, North Bendigo 59 d Colbinabbin 27, Heathcote 41 d Huntly 40, Elmore 25 lt Lockington Bamawm United 32, White Hills bye.
17-and-under:
Leitchville Gunbower 31 lt Mount Pleasant 54, North Bendigo 42 d Colbinabbin 21, Heathcote forfeit to Huntly, Elmore 43 dr Lockington Bamawm United 43, White Hills bye.
15-and-under:
Leitchville Gunbower 14 lt Mount Pleasant 50, North Bendigo 8 lt Colbinabbin 49, Heathcote 44 lt Huntly 58, Elmore 30 lt Lockington Bamawm United 46, White Hills bye.
13-and-under:
Leitchville Gunbower 44 d Mount Pleasant 6, North Bendigo 22 lt Colbinabbin 34, Heathcote 17 lt Huntly 36, Elmore 23 lt Lockington Bamawm United 31, White Hills bye.
League ladders:
A-reserve:
White Hills 130 per cent, 28 points; Huntly 122, 28; Elmore 135, 24; Leitchville Gunbower 104, 16; Mount Pleasant 102, 16; Lockington Bamawm United 96, 16; Colbinabbin 94, 12; North Bendigo 80, 4; Heathcote 56, 0.
B-grade:
Leitchville Gunbower 156 per cent, 32 points; White Hills 123, 28; Lockington Bamawm United 118, 24; Huntly 127, 20; Elmore 89, 8; Mount Pleasant 85, 8; North Bendigo 80, 8; Heathcote 73, 8; Colbinabbin 68, 0.
B-reserve:
White Hills 167 per cent, 28 points; Lockington Bamawm United 136, 28; Huntly 120, 20; Mount Pleasant 117, 20; North Bendigo 97, 12; Colbinabbin 77, 12; Leitchville Gunbower 73, 12; Heathcote 71, 8; Elmore 67, 4.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 168 per cent, 28 points; Huntly 124, 24; Lockington Bamawm United 138, 18; Elmore 119, 18; Leitchville Gunbower 93, 10; White Hills 80, 6; Colbinabbin 61, 4; North Bendigo 56, 4.
15-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 325 per cent, 32 points; Lockington Bamawm United 172, 26; White Hills 129, 24; Elmore 98, 20; Huntly 137, 18; Leitchville Gunbower 78, 8; Colbinabbin 74, 8; Heathcote 61, 8; North Bendigo 12, 0.
13-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 391 per cent, 32 points; Leitchville Gunbower 408, 28; Elmore 189, 20; Huntly 133, 20; Heathcote 127, 16; Mount Pleasant 80, 16; Colbinabbin 34, 8; North Bendigo 28, 4; White Hills 17, 0.