BY NATHAN DOLE
Dragons fire up on Golden Square’s court
SANDHURST fired up to record a 34-goal victory at Golden Square in Saturday’s clash to complete the split sixth round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
The Dragons and Bulldogs met on Ron Best Memorial Shield day at Fur Life Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.
In the lead-up to the match, Golden Square coach Chris O’Sullivan stepped down from the role because of increased work commitments.
Director of coaching at the club, Teigan Redwood stepped up to be A-grade coach.
It was a tough initiation for Redwood and the young Golden Square team against last year’s runner-up.
The blue and gold worked hard against the Dragons who have had a disjointed run across the opening seven rounds.
On Saturday it was the Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst which was too strong in all thirds of the court.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Kangaroo Flat 210 per cent, 16 points; Gisborne 163, 16; Sandhurst 181, 12; Strathfieldsaye 112, 12; Eaglehawk 72, 8; Castlemaine 78, 4; Golden Square 56, 4; South Bendigo 54, 4.
The Sandhurst Dragons were in top form on Golden Square’s courts in all grades of netball.
Sandhurst won the A-reserve contest, 49-26.
The maroon and blue won the B-grade match, 59-15.
Details from the B-reserve match were not supplied.
At 17-and-under level, Sandhurst marked a 61-34 victory against the blue and gold.
The rising stars of both clubs were unbeaten going into the match.
Indigenous Round will be played next Saturday.
Feature match of the day will be Kangaroo Flat against Castlemaine’s on the Kangaroos’ court at Dower Park from 2.20pm.
Gisborne plays Strathfieldsaye at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
Sandhurst faces Eaglehawk at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
It’s a bye for Golden Square in A-grade, but the Bulldogs will travel across to Maryborough’s Princes Park to play the Magpies in the lower grades.
South Bendigo has the bye.
League ladders:
A-reserve:
Gisborne 217 per cent, 20 points; Strathfieldsaye 154, 20; Kangaroo Flat 106, 14; Maryborough 100, 14; Sandhurst 107, 8; Castlemaine 90, 8; South Bendigo 72, 4; Eaglehawk 67, 4; Golden Square 63, 0.
B-grade:
Gisborne 216 per cent, 20 points; Kangaroo Flat 133, 20; Sandhurst 168 16; Strathfieldsaye 133, 16; South Bendigo 87, 8; Castlemaine 83, 8; Eaglehawk 81, 8; Golden Square 57, 0; Maryborough 39, 0.
B-reserve, pending result Golden Square v Sandhurst:
Strathfieldsaye 145 per cent, 20 points; Sandhurst 213, 16; Gisborne 192, 16; Kangaroo Flat 132, 12; South Bendigo 114, 12; Eaglehawk 114, 8; Golden Square 67, 4; Castlemaine 59, 4; Maryborough 29, 0.
17-and-under:
Sandhurst 224 per cent, 20 points; Golden Square 161, 20; Maryborough 103, 16; Strathfieldsaye 138, 12; Castlemaine 97, 8; South Bendigo 93, 8; Gisborne 90, 8; Eaglehawk 47, 4; Kangaroo Flat 41, 0.