-By Nathan Dole
MOUNT Pleasant marked a superb start to A-grade netball action in Saturday’s first round clash with Heathcote in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
The Blues and Saints played at Colbinabbin’s M.J. Morgan Oval.
The Anthea McCleary-coached Mount Pleasant raced to a big lead in the first quarter and the pressure did not ease up.
Goalscoring accuracy was a highlight for the Blues in a 61-24 victory.
The run does not become any easier for Heathcote’s first-year coach Chloe Meulenmeesters and the team as they take on last season’s runner-up, Colbinabbin in round two on April 26.
Defences were well on top for most of the North Bendigo and Elmore match at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street.
A new-look Elmore team coached by Annie Hockey fought on for a 36-31 victory.
Although disappointed not to have taken the points there was a lot to like about the play of the Kiralee Kinder-coached North Bendigo line-up.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks passed the 50-goal mark in their match under the Lockington Recreation Reserve lights.
Jointly coached by Ashlea Sherlock and Kym Bell, Huntly recorded a 52-30 victory against the LBU Cats.
The Hawks led 9-8 at quarter-time and then soared to a 21-16 buffer by half-time.
Huntly won the third quarter, 15-6, and then dominated the last as it poured in 16 goals and kept the Kerryn Giorgianni and Shelby Stone-coached LBU to a tally of eight goals.
The Winslow White Hills Demons netted a 69-45 victory in their night match against Leitchville Gunbower at Winslow Constructors Oval in Scott Street.
Elly Lawton marked her A-grade coaching debut for the red and black.
A young Leitchville Gunbower team is being coached by Grant Matthews.
Colbinabbin had the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Mount Pleasant 254 per cent, 4 points; Huntly 173, 4; White Hills 153, 4; Elmore 116, 4; North Bendigo 86, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 65, 0; Lockington Bamawm United 57, 0; Heathcote 39, 0; Colbinabbin 0, 0.
Round two will be played on April 26.
Heathcote faces Colbinabbin on the Saints’ court at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
Lockington Bamawm United will be at home again for a showdown with Mount Pleasant.
Leitchville Gunbower and Huntly clash at Leitchville.
Two of the league’s most dominant clubs of recent seasons, Elmore and White Hills will play at Elmore Recreation Reserve.
North Bendigo has the bye.
Round one scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Mount Pleasant 61 d Heathcote 28, North Bendigo 31 lt Elmore 36, White Hills 59 d Leitchville Gunbower 19, Lockington Bamawm United 29 lt Huntly 66, Colbinabbin bye.
B-grade:
Mount Pleasant 43 d Heathcote 35, North Bendigo 48 d Elmore 28, White Hills 55 d Leitchville Gunbower 16, Lockington Bamawm United 29 lt Huntly 69, Colbinabbin bye.
B-reserve:
Mount Pleasant 38 lt Heathcote 39, North Bendigo 41 d Elmore 24, White Hills 49 d Leitchville Gunbower 18, Lockington Bamawm United 32 lt Huntly 42, Colbinabbin bye.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 53 d Heathcote 23, North Bendigo 27 lt Elmore 50, White Hills 50 d Leitchville Gunbower 40, Lockington Bamawm United 27 lt Huntly 50, Colbinabbin bye.
15-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 28 lt Heathcote 38, North Bendigo 22 lt Elmore 63, White Hills 47 d Leitchville Gunbower 17, Lockington Bamawm United 64 d Huntly 25, Colbinabbin bye.
13-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 26 d Heathcote 12, North Bendigo 4 lt Elmore 39, White Hills 7 lt Leitchville Gunbower 31, Lockington Bamawm United 40 d Huntly 4, Colbinabbin bye.
League ladders:
A-reserve:
White Hills 310, 4; Huntly 227, 4; Mount Pleasant 217, 4; Elmore 116, 4; North Bendigo 86, 0; Heathcote 45, 0; Lockington Bamawm United 43, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 32, 0; Colbinabbin 0, 0.
B-grade:
White Hills 343, 4; Huntly 237, 4; North Bendigo 171, 4; Mount Pleasant 122, 4; Heathcote 81, 0; Elmore 58, 0; Lockington Bamawm United 42, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 29, 0; Colbinabbin 0, 0.
B-reserve:
White Hills 272, 4; North Bendigo 170, 4; Huntly 131, 4; Heathcote 102, 4; Mount Pleasant 97, 0; Lockington Bamawm United 76, 0; Elmore 58, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 36, 0; Colbinabbin 0, 0.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 230, 4; Elmore 185, 4; Huntly 185, 4; White Hills 125, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 80, 0; Lockington Bamawm United 54, 0; North Bendigo 54, 0; Heathcote 43, 0; Colbinabbin 0, 0.
15-and-under:
Elmore 286, 4; White Hills 276, 4; Lockington Bamawm United 256, 4; Heathcote 135, 4; Mount Pleasant 73, 0; Huntly 39, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 36, 0; North Bendigo 34, 0; Colbinabbin 0, 0.
13-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 1000, 4; Elmore 975, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 442, 4; Mount Pleasant 216, 4; Heathcote 46, 0; White Hills 22, 0; North Bendigo 10, 0; Huntly 10,