BY NATHAN DOLE
Bombers stay in race, Elmore wins thriller against Colbo
LEITCHVILLE Gunbower stayed in the A-grade netball premiership race when it won Sunday’s elimination final on day two of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL finals series.
The LG Bombers had home-court advantage at Leitchville for their showdown with Heathcote.
It was the Heathcote Saints who made a strong start and capitalised on scoring chances.
Play changed dramatically in the second quarter.
As the Saints defensive pressure dipped it was the Bombers who took advantage to lead 29-23 by half-time.
The Brooke Bolton and Kelsey Hayes-coached Heathcote lifted to win the third term by a goal.
In the last it was the Caitlyn Hamilton-coached Leitchville Gunbower which controlled play in all thirds of the court.
The Bombers surged clear to claim a 56-43 victory.
After moving into week two of A-grade finals, Leitchville Gunbower will now take on Colbinabbin in next Sunday’s first semi at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street, White Hills.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Colbinabbin will be on the rebound from a one-goal loss in the qualifying final clash with Elmore played at Lockington.
The Grasshoppers and Bloods went goal-for-goal throughout the first half.
It was 15-all at quarter-time before Elmore led 28-27 at the long break.
The Allira Holmes and Kelsey Hayes-coached Elmore took charge to score 15 goals in the third quarter as it held the green and gold to tally of 12 goals.
Colbinabbin fought back brilliantly in the final term, but at the final siren the Bloods led 57-56.
Elmore now moves through to meet reigning premier White Hills in next Saturday’s second semi-final at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
It’s a win for White Hills and a draw in the other in this season’s meetings between the Demons and Bloods.
The Lauren Bowles-coached White Hills dominated the round six match on its court to score a 71-33 victory.
It was a 53-all draw in the return game played in the 15th round on Elmore’s court.
Heathcote DFNL elimination finals scoreboard:
13-and-under:
Elmore 48 d Heathcote 14.
15-and-under: Huntly 58 d Elmore 50.
17-and-under:
Elmore 54 d White Hills 34.
B-reserve:
Mount Pleasant 35 d North Bendigo 23.
B-grade:
Lockington Bamawm United 16 d North Bendigo 0.
A-reserve:
Colbinabbin 52 lt Lockington Bamawm United 57.
A-grade:
Leitchville Gunbower 56 d Heathcote 43.
Heathcote DFNL qualifying finals scoreboard:
13-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 12, 25, 31, 34 d Huntly 8, 12, 18, 20.
15-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 8, 21, 28, 34 lt White Hills 11, 19, 29, 38.
17-and-under:
Huntly 11, 17, 27, 33 lt Lockington Bamawm United 5, 12, 24, 34.
B-reserve:
Lockington Bamawm United 9, 20, 30, 38 d Huntly 7, 14, 24, 36.
B-grade:
White Hills 6, 13, 17, 24 lt Huntly 11, 22, 31, 35.
A-reserve:
Elmore 8, 13, 22, 32 lt Huntly 7, 16, 28, 38.
A-grade:
Elmore 15, 28, 43, 57 d Colbinabbin 15, 27, 39, 56.
Schedule for Saturday’s second semi-finals at Pigeon Park, Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve:
13-and-under at 8.45am, court two: Leitchville Gunbower v Lockington Bamawm United.
17-and-under at 8.45am: Mount Pleasant v Lockington Bamawm United.
15-and-under at 10am: Mount Pleasant v White Hills.
B-grade at 11.15am: Leitchville Gunbower v Huntly.
B-reserve at 12.30pm: White Hills v Lockington Bamawm United.
A-reserve at 1.45pm: White Hills v Huntly.
A-grade at 3pm: White Hills v Elmore.
Schedule for Sunday’s first semi-finals at Winslow Constructors Oval, Scott Street, White Hills:
13-and-under at 9.30am: Huntly v Elmore.
17-and-under at 9.30am: Huntly v Elmore.
15-and-under at 11am: Lockington Bamawm United v Huntly.
B-grade at 11am: White Hills v Lockington Bamawm United.
B-reserve at 12.30pm: Huntly v Mount Pleasant.
A-reserve at 12.30pm: Elmore v Lockington Bamawm United.
A-grade at 2pm: Colbinabbin v Leitchville Gunbower.