PRESSURE will be high as Mount Pleasant takes on White Hills in Saturday’s 15th round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.
Second takes on third in a likely qualifying final prelude between the Blues and Demons in Toolleen.
Both teams are locked on 40 premiership points.
Although Mount Pleasant is second on the ladder it was the Elly Lawton-coached Winslow Constructors White Hills Demons hich won the round six showdown with the Blues in Scott Street by 23 goals.
The Anthea McCleary-coached Mount Pleasant won last Saturday’s match on North Bendigo’s court at Bendigo Club Oval by 12 goals.
As the Blues outplayed the Bulldogs, White Hills won its home game with Harlowe Huntly Hawks by 27 goals.
Mounts and White Hills start this round eight premiership points clear of the fourth-placed Huntly.
In hot form all season, Colbinabbin will be back on its court at M.J. Morgan Oval to play North Bendigo.
The Jen McIntyre-coached Grasshoppers won the round six match at North Bendigo by 33 goals.
Colbinabbin hit the 70-goal mark in last Saturday’s match at Elmore.
Slick passing and accurate goalkicking by the team in green and gold will be tough for North Bendigo to match in a quarter, let alone four.
The Kiralee Kinder-coached North Bendigo rolls into this contest on a tally of 4 ½ wins.
It’s Memorial Day at Heathcote’s Pigeon Park as the Saints take on Elmore in Barrack Reserve.
Points are up for grabs on a significant day for Heathcote FNC which pays respects to all members who have passed and their contribution to the club and community.
Memorial Day is also a fund-raiser for various causes in the Cancer network.
On court the Anna Dundon-coached Heathcote will be keen to play well in the one-off purple uniform.
Back in round six it was Elmore which defeated the Saints by 32 goals.
Massive test for Heathcote this time as the Bloods who are coached by Cayde Hayes, playing, and Hayley Langdon, non-playing, are on the rebound from defeat.
Leitchville Gunbower will be chasing back-to-back victories as it plays Lockington Bamawm United at Lockington’s Nichol Trading Oval.
The Grant Matthews-coached Leitchville Gunbower won last Saturday’s match with Heathcote at Gunbower by 12 goals.
When these Bombers and Cats met earlier in the season it was LG which won by 14 goals.
The Kerryn Giorgianni and Shelby Stone-coached LBU Cats have been far more consistent in quarters and matches since then.
A win for LBU on Heathcote’s court in Pigeon Park meant the Cats climbed from the bottom rung on the ladder.
The Harlowe Huntly Hawks have the bye.
Standings in the Heathcote DFNL A-grade netball competition:
Colbinabbin 249 per cent, 48 points; Mount Pleasant 131, 40; White Hills 128, 40; Huntly 99, 32; Elmore 87, 26; North Bendigo 99, 18; Leitchville Gunbower 70, 12; Lockington Bamawm United 65, 4; Heathcote 58, 4.
Heathcote DFNL netball ladders after 14 rounds:
A-reserve:
Huntly 162 per cent, 48 points; Mount Pleasant 161, 36; Colbinabbin 131, 32; North Bendigo 108, 24; White Hills 115, 20; Lockington Bamawm United 84, 12; Elmore 49, 4; Leitchville Gunbower 54, 0.
B-grade:
White Hills 149 per cent, 44 points; Huntly 148, 44; Mount Pleasant 119, 34; Lockington Bamawm United 99, 26; Heathcote 108, 24; North Bendigo 93, 20; Colbinabbin 95, 16; Elmore 80, 12; Leitchville Gunbower 45, 4.
B-reserve:
Huntly 161 per cent, 52 points; Mount Pleasant 149, 40; White Hills 125, 36; North Bendigo 117, 28; Heathcote 95, 22; Lockington Bamawm United 101, 20; Elmore 92, 16; Leitchville Gunbower 40, 6; Colbinabbin 70, 4.
17-and-under:
Mount Pleasant 175 per cent, 48 points; Huntly 203, 46; White Hills 146, 36; Elmore 92, 28; Leitchville Gunbower 100, 24; Lockington Bamawm United 134, 22; Heathcote 61, 8; Colbinabbin 45, 8; North Bendigo 49, 4.
15-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 364 per cent, 48 points; White Hills 175, 40; Elmore 149, 38; Colbinabbin 102, 28; Leitchville Gunbower 95, 26; Huntly 110, 20; Heathcote 48, 16; North Bendigo 42, 4; Mount Pleasant 39, 4.
13-and-under:
Lockington Bamawm United 371 per cent, 48 points; Elmore 233, 40; Colbinabbin 207, 40; Leitchville Gunbower 142, 32; North Bendigo 76, 20; Heathcote 80, 16; Mount Pleasant 64, 16; Huntly 31, 8; White Hills 25, 4.