SANDHURST broke Gisborne’s unbeaten run in A-grade netball as the ninth round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League season was played on Saturday.
Two of the competition’s fiercest rivals met at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Gisborne was chasing a seventh victory, while Sandhurs was aiming to equal that tally and move to the second rung on the ladder.
A great run by Gisborne had included a 43-all draw with Kangaroo Flat in the third round at Gardiner Reserve.
Sandhurst’s only defeat leading up to the halfway mark of the season was a 46-51 loss at Kangaroo Flat in the fourth round.
On Saturday it was Sandhurst which controlled most of the play.
Aiming for a fourth consecutive premiership, Sandhurst showed it’s a force to be reckoned with in a 62-46 result against Gisborne.
The round was completed under Strathfieldsaye Storm’s lights at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane on Saturday night when Storm took on Kyneton.
Although Storm had home-court advantage it was Kyneton which teamed brilliantly in the cold conditions.
The yellow and black won a high-scoring contest, 57-44.
Results at Golden Square and Maryborough went as expected.
Golden Square took on Eaglehawk at Fur Life Vet Oval in Wade Street.
A 56-28 victory by the Hawks followed an 11-goal triumph at home against Strathfieldsaye the previous round.
More than 80 goals were scored as Maryborough played South Bendigo at Barkers Oval in Princes Park.
The Bloods were determined to hit back from a 35-goal loss to Kangaroo Flat at the QEO in round eight and did so in style.
South Bendigo won 52-33.
The unbeaten Kangaroo Flat had a rest in A-grade as Castlemaine is not fielding a team.
Kangaroo Flat and Castlemaine contested the lower grades at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Dower Park.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Kangaroo Flat 200 per cent, 34 points; Sandhurst 180, 32; Gisborne 143, 30; South Bendigo 98, 24; Eaglehawk 98, 20; Kyneton 68, 16; Strathfieldsaye 75, 8; Maryborough 64, 8; Golden Square 52, 8.
In next Saturday’s 10th round, Kangaroo Flat marks a return to the Dower Park court when it faces Eaglehawk.
Strathfieldsaye and Gisborne are both on the rebound from defeat as they meet at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
Maryborough and Sandhurst clash at Barkers Oval.
Golden Square takes on Kyneton at Fur Life Vet Oval in Wade Street.
South Bendigo plays Castlemaine the lower grades at the QEO, but the Bloods take a rest in A-grade.
Written by Nathan Dole.