SECOND on the A-grade netball ladder, North Bendigo faces a big test in Saturday’s third round in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote District Football Netball League season.
The team in red, white and blue will be aiming for a hat-trick of wins when it takes on White Hills at Hibo Hotel Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street.
A great start to the 2021 campaign by North has included a home-court win against Huntly by three goals and then a 48-20 victory against Leitchville Gunbower at Degroot Roof Painting Oval in Leitchville.
The Lauren Cowling-coached White Hills has a 1-1 record.
Stung by an 18-goal defeat at home to Elmore in the stand-alone match to open the season, White Hills struck back the next week to beat Leitchville Gunbower by 32 goals at Tint-A-Car Oval in Scott Street.
When these clubs last met in round 12 of the 2019 season, White Hills beat North Bendigo by 35 goals at home.
It was another big step in the Demons run to another premiership victory.
Both line-ups have changed markedly since then.
Fifth and third on the ladder, Colbinabbin and Huntly clash on the Grasshoppers’ court at M.J. Morgan Reserve in Colbinabbin.
The Grasshoppers and Hawks have a 1-1 record.
After a 38-goal loss at Elmore in round one, Colbo hit back for a 25-goal victory at Lockington last round.
The Hawks also worked hard to strike back from a three-goal loss at North Bendigo to score a 32-goal win against Heathcote in last Saturday’s match at Specialist Breeders Australia Oval in Huntly’s Strauch Reserve.
In round 14 of the 2019 season, Colbinabbin won 50-40 at Huntly.
Heathcote will be aiming to mark its second win of the season when the Saints host Leitchville Gunbower at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
The Saints began the season in style as they scored a 14-goal win at home against Lockington Bamawm United.
Heathcote will be keen to rebound from a big loss to Huntly.
A tough run for Leitchville Gunbower began with a 32-goal loss at White Hills and then by 28 goals at Leitchville against North Bendigo.
Heathcote’s seven-goal win on the road against Leitchville Gunbower in round 14 was one of two wins in 2019 for the Saints.
Mount Pleasant takes on Lockington Bamawm United at Toolleen.
The Blues will be keen to strike back from a 38-goal loss in their first game of the season at Elmore.
LBU was on the end of a 14-goal loss at Heathcote in round one, and a 25-goal defeat to Colbo at home last Saturday.
The unbeaten Elmore has the bye.
Ladder in the Heathcote DFNL’s A-grade netball competition:
Elmore 171 per cent, 12 points; North Bendigo 149, 8; Huntly 138, 4; White Hills 117, 4; Colbinabbin 109, 4; Heathcote 79, 4; Lockington Bamawm United 58, 0; Mount Pleasant 47, 0; Leitchville Gunbower 41, 0.
Written by Nathan Dole
Background photo credit – Mathew Clarkson