THERE is plenty at stake as Huntly and North Bendigo meet in this Saturday’s 17th round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote District Football Netball League.
Win and Huntly will take North Bendigo’s place in the top five at one scheduled round to go until finals.
Neither the Hawks or Bulldogs will be looking any further than this contest on Huntly’s court at Specialist Breeders Australia Oval in Strauch Reserve.
Both teams will start favourite in the 18th round scheduled for August 21 where North Bendigo hosts Leitchville Gunbower, and Huntly plays at Heathcote.
Just three goals separated the Hawks and Bulldogs when they met in round one on April 10.
On that occasion it was North Bendigo which won 46-43 at Hibo Hotel Oval in Atkins Street.
Players will be keen to be back on court after last Saturday’s round was abandonded because of the Covid lockdown.
When they last played on July 31, the Huntly Hawks scored a hard-fought 45-32 win at home against Leitchville Gunbower.
The North Bendigo line-up had the daunting task against the unbeaten Elmore on its court.
A high-scoring contest ended in a 66-43 win for Elmore.
The league’s top two, Elmore and Colbinabbin meet on the Grasshoppers’ court at M.J. Morgan Reserve.
It’s been a longer break for Colbinabbin as it had the bye on July 31.
Earlier in the season, Elmore beat Colbo by 18 goals.
Playing at home, Colbinabbin will be confident of a much closer margin, or even ending the Bloods’ winning run.
Lockington Bamawm United will be desperate to achieve a breakthrough victory when it plays Heathcote at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval.
The previous meeting between the teams ended in a 14-goal win for the Saints at Pigeon Park in Heathcote’s Barrack Reserve.
Leitchville Gunbower takes on White Hills at Degroot Roof Painting Reserve in Gunbower.
The White Hills line-up dominated its most recent game against LBU.
Not only did the Demons pass the 50-goal mark, they kept the Cats to 10 goals.
It could be another tough afternoon for Leitchville Gunbower as the Demons build momentum in the run to another finals campaign.
Mount Pleasant has the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Elmore 197 per cent, 50 points; Colbinabbin 146, 46; White Hills 125, 36; Mount Pleasant 117, 36; North Bendigo 93, 30; Huntly 98, 28; Heathcote 67, 16; Leitchville Gunbower 54, 8; Lockington Bamawm United 51, 6.
Written by Nathan Dole.