BY NATHAN DOLE
Kangaroos bound into another showdown with Dragons
KANGAROO Flat bounced its way into another showdown with Sandhurst in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL A-grade netball series.
The Kangaroos stayed in the premiership race as it dominated Sunday’s first semi-final with Eaglehawk at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Roos bounced back from a four-goal loss to Sandhurst in the first semi-final to end the Hawks’ season.
In a strong four-quarter performance, Kangaroo Flat poured in 66 goals and kept the Two Blues to a tally of 33.
The Kylie Piercy-coached Eaglehawk had played well to win the elimination final against Strathfieldsaye by five goals, but had few answers to combat the skill and finals experience of the Kangaroo Flat line-up.
The Roos now take on Sandhurst in Saturday’s preliminary final.
At stake is the chance to meet Gisborne in the September 21 grand final.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne is on track to claim consecutive premierships after a 51-38 win against Sandhurst in the second semi-final.
The Bulldogs have beaten the Tamara Gilchrist-coached Dragons in all three matches this season.
It’s three-nil in favour of the Dragons against Kangaroo Flat so far in ’24.
Sandhurst has won its matches with the Roos by margins of seven, five and four goals.
It was a memorable Sunday for Strathfieldsaye on first semi-final day.
The Storm kept premiership hopes alive in A-reserve, B-reserve, and 17-and-under.
Strathfieldsaye ended Maryborough’s run as it charged to a 51-41 victory in A-reserve.
It was a three-goal thriller in B-reserve as Storm held on for a 54-51 win against Kangaroo Flat.
The day’s play began with a two-goal win for Strathfieldsaye in the 17-and-under clash with Maryborough.
Storm led 61-59 at the final siren.
Four goals was the difference in B-grade as Kangaroo Flat bounced its way to a 52-48 win against Strathfieldsaye.
On Saturday it was Gisborne against Sandhurst in four of the five matches played on second semi-final day.
First on court were Sandhurst and Golden Square in the 17-and-under match.
Both had identical 15-1 records in the home-and-away series.
Game three between the Dragons and Bulldogs ended in a 60-39 win for Sandhurst.
It was three-one in favour of Gisborne against Sandhurst in other grades.
The teams in red, white and blue advanced to the September 21 grand finals in A-grade, A-reserve and B-reserve.
The B-grade and B-reserve second semi-finals were closely-fought.
The Dragons fired their way to a 50-46 win in B-grade.
In B-reserve it was Gisborne which led 50-45 after the final play.
Gisborne’s unbeaten run in A-reserve kept rolling as it scored a 43-36 win against the maroon and blue.
A 51-38 result for Gisborne in A-grade was the Bulldogs’ 14th victory of the season.
Bendigo FNL netball first semi-finals scoreboard:
A-grade: Kangaroo Flat 66 d Eaglehawk 33.
A-reserve: Strathfieldsaye 51 d Maryborough 41.
B-grade: Kangaroo Flat 52 d Strathfieldsaye 48.
B-reserve: Strathfieldsaye 54 d Kangaroo Flat 51.
17-and-under: Strathfieldsaye 61 d Maryborough 59.
Bendigo FNL netball second semi-finals scoreboard:
A-grade: Gisborne 51 d Sandhurst 38.
A-reserve: Gisborne 43 d Sandhurst 36.
B-grade: Sandhurst 50 d Gisborne 46.
B-reserve: Gisborne 50 d Sandhurst 45.
17-and-under: Sandhurst 60 d Golden Square 39.
There will be five clubs which feature in the Bendigo FNL’s netball preliminary finals on Saturday at the QEO in View Street.
Schedule for Saturday’s preliminary finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval:
17-and-under at 10am: Golden Square v Strathfieldsaye.
B-reserve at 11.20am: Sandhurst v Strathfieldsaye.
B-grade at 12.40pm: Gisborne v Kangaroo Flat.
A-reserve at 2pm: Sandhurst v Strathfieldsaye.
A-grade at 3.20pm: Sandhurst v Kangaroo Flat.