HEAT on the netball courts will rise dramatically in this weekend’s start to the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL finals series.
Action begins with Saturday’s qualifying finals at Gunbower and rolls on to Sunday’s elimination finals at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street.
All nine clubs have at least one team to compete in the first week of the finals campaign.
In A-grade, White Hills takes on Mount Pleasant on Gunbower’s number one court at 2.30pm.
The Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons have a two-nil record in this season’s showdowns with the Blues.
In round six the Elly Lawton-coached White Hills outplayed the Blues, 53-30 on the Scott Street court in White Hills.
Margin was much closer when the teams met again in round 15 at Mount Pleasant’s home at Toolleen.
The Anthea McCleary-coached Mount Pleasant brought a high level of pressure to the match, but the Demons handled the heat on a the way to a 52-44 victory.
On Sunday it will be Elmore and Huntly fighting to stay in the A-grade premiership race when they contest the elimination final on court one at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street.
In a brilliant start to the season, Huntly scored a 43-40 win in the round three clash with Elmore at Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
The Bloods and Hawks played out another closely-fought match in round 12 at Elmore.
On that day the red and white fought on for a 44-39 win against Huntly.
A tally of nine wins, six defeats and a draw meant Elmore finished the regular season in fourth place.
The Bloods are coached by Cayde Hayes, playing, and Hayley Langdon, non-playing.
Huntly had a nine-seven record after 16 rounds to be on the fifth rung and through to an eagerly-awaited finals appearance.
The Hawks are coached by Ashlea Sherlock and Kym Bell.
Schedule for Saturday’s netball qualifying finals at Gunbower:
17-and-under at 8.45am, court one: Mount Pleasant v White Hills.
13-and-under at 8.45am, court two: Colbinabbin v Elmore.
B-grade at 10am, court one: Huntly v Mount Pleasant.
15-and-under at 10am, court two: White Hills v Elmore.
B-reserve at 11.30am, court one: Mount Pleasant v White Hills.
A-reserve at 1pm, court one: Mount Pleasant v Colbinabbin.
A-grade at 2.30pm, court one: White Hills v Mount Pleasant.
Schedule for Sunday’s netball elimination finals at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street:
17-and-under at 9.30am, court one: Elmore v Leitchville Gunbower.
13-and-under at 9.30am, court two: Leitchville Gunbower v Heathcote.
15-and-under at 11am, court two: Colbinabbin v Huntly.
B-grade at 11am, court one: Lockington Bamawm United v Heathcote.
B-reserve at 12.30pm, court two: North Bendigo v Heathcote.
A-reserve at 12.30pm, court one: North Bendigo v White Hills.
A-grade at 2pm, court one: Elmore v Huntly.