HAVING played just twice in six weeks, Mount Pleasant takes on A-grade ladder leader Elmore in Saturday’s 18th round of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote District Football Netball League season.
It’s been a stop-start run for all clubs because of Covid lockdowns, but it’s been incredibly difficult for Mounts to build momentum.
The fourth-placed Blues will have home-court advantage for this Saturday’s match against Elmore.
Mount Pleasant won its July 10 match at Gunbower, but was on the sidelines on July 17 and 24 because of lockdown.
The Blues were back on the Toolleen court to beat Heathcote by 16 goals on July 31.
A week later and the round was abandoned and the Blues had the bye when the competition resumed last Saturday.
At the same time, Elmore has kept on clocking up the wins.
The Bloods won at Huntly on July 10 by 30 goals, won the home game against North Bendigo on July 31 by 23 goals, and last Saturday’s showdown at Colbinabbin by 19 goals.
Elmore scored a 72-34 victory against Mounts in the round two clash on April 17.
The Huntly Hawks dislodged North Bendigo from fifth after a 47-29 win at Specialist Breeders Australia Oval in Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
Win at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve this week and the Hawks are into an elimination final.
In round two, Huntly beat Heathcote by 32 goals.
The Hawks will be chasing a hat-trick of victories following at 13 goal win at Leitchville Gunbower in the 15th round and last Saturday’s success against the Bulldogs.
North Bendigo will be back at Hibo Hotel Oval in Atkins Street to take on Leitchville Gunbower.
In round two, North won at Gunbower by 28 goals and will be determined to mark its seventh win of the season.
Colbinabbin takes on Lockington Bamawm United at Colbo’s M.J. Morgan Reserve.
The Grasshoppers won at Lockington by 25 goals in round two and are likely to have too much scoring power for the Cats.
Colbinabbin will be determined to build confidence ahead of another finals campaign.
LBU worked extremely hard to be within four goals of Heathcote in last Saturday’s match.
White Hills has the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Elmore 187 per cent, 54 points; Colbinabbin 143, 46; White Hills 129, 40; Mount Pleasant 117, 36; Huntly 101, 32; North Bendigo 91, 30; Heathcote 69, 20; Leitchville Gunbower 53, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 53, 6.
Written by Nathan Dole.