SANDHURST marked a third win against Gisborne this A-grade netball season in Saturday’s 16th and final round in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL home-and-away series.
Two of the competition’s greatest rivals took to the court at Queen Elizabeth Oval in Bendigo Bank Round.
The day was a way to acknowledge the significant and long-running support Bendigo Bank provides to the Bendigo FNL and to leagues across the AFL Central Victoria region.
It was a crucial contest as the Dragons and Bulldogs will meet in this Saturday’s qualifying final on day one of the league’s finals series.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst won the opening two quarters, 15-12 and 12-11 in Saturday’s showdown with the red, white and blue.
By half-time the maroon and blue led 27-23 as it chased a hat-trick of wins against the premier of the past two seasons.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne hit back strongly to win the third quarter.
As the Bulldogs added nine goals they kept the Dragons to just a tally of six.
Sandhurst led 33-32 going into the final quarter.
The maroon and blue lifted its play dramatically to win a high-scoring last term, 15-12.
At the final siren Sandhurst was up 48-44.
The Dragons have won all three contests with Gisborne this season by margins of 18, five and four goals.
South Bendigo faced a red-hot Kangaroo Flat at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street.
Sibling rivalry was to the fore on the coaching front as Lauren Bowles is coaching South Bendigo and her younger brother, Jayden Cowling is the Kangaroos’ coach.
Kangaroo Flat bounced away to lead 23-11 by quarter-time and 45-23 at the long break.
The Roos showed the Bloods no mercy.
Kangaroo Flat won a high-scoring third quarter, 28-12.
The Roos almost hit the century mark in what became a 94-50 victory on the Bloods’ court.
Unbeaten and on top of the ladder, Kangaroo Flat has a rest on the first weekend of the A-grade finals.
The Roos will play Sandhurst or Gisborne in the second semi-final.
South Bendigo will be back on court this Sunday to meet Eaglehawk in the A-grade elimination final.
Strathfieldsaye Storm capped its season with a 21-goal victory against Golden Square.
The Jess Mangan-coached Storm won every quarter in its home game at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane against the blue and gold.
Strathfieldsaye led 18-13 at quarter-time and 33-26 by the main break.
Quarter three was to be Storm’s best of the contest as it scored 17 goals and kept the Bulldogs to a tally of eight.
The last went Strathfieldsaye’s way, 17-12, as it celebrated a 67-46 victory.
It was a bye for Eaglehawk in A-grade, but the Borough played Castlemaine in all other netball grades at Canterbury Park.
The Jannelle Hobbs-coached Eaglehawk takes on South Bendigo in an elimination final next Sunday at the QEO.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition after 16 rounds:
Kangaroo Flat 217 per cent, 56 points; Sandhurst 166, 48; Gisborne 132, 32; South Bendigo 76, 22; Eaglehawk 67, 18; Strathfieldsaye 63, 12; Golden Square 55, 4.
Bendigo FNL netball round 16 scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Sandhurst 41 lt Gisborne 48, South Bendigo 45 lt Kangaroo Flat 55, Strathfieldsaye 48 d Golden Square 42, Eaglehawk 42 lt Castlemaine 51.
B-grade:
Sandhurst 41 lt Gisborne 61, South Bendigo 37 d Kangaroo Flat 36, Strathfieldsaye 66 d Golden Square 40, Eaglehawk 49 d Castlemaine 21.
B-reserve:
Sandhurst 32 dr Gisborne 32, South Bendigo 35 lt Kangaroo Flat 57, Strathfieldsaye 49 d Golden Square 30, Eaglehawk 69 d Castlemaine 20.
17-and-under:
Sandhurst 50 d Gisborne 35, South Bendigo 30 lt Kangaroo Flat 48, Strathfieldsaye 48 d Golden Square 38, Eaglehawk 36 d Castlemaine 29.
Bendigo FNL netball ladders after 16 rounds:
A-reserve:
Kangaroo Flat 147 per cent, 60 points; Gisborne 150, 54; Sandhurst 142, 42; South Bendigo 108, 36; Strathfieldsaye 91, 30; Eaglehawk 75, 16; Castlemaine 69, 14; Golden Square 61, 4.
B-grade:
Gisborne 212 per cent, 64 points; Kangaroo Flat 125, 48; South Bendigo 114, 44; Strathfieldsaye 123, 40; Sandhurst 113, 32; Eaglehawk 79, 16; Golden Square 68, 12; Castlemaine 42, 0.
B-reserve:
Gisborne 198 per cent, 62 points; Kangaroo Flat 171, 48; Sandhurst 161, 46; Strathfieldsaye 133, 44; South Bendigo 111, 28; Eaglehawk 74, 16; Golden Square 73, 12; Castlemaine 18, 0.
17-and-under:
Sandhurst 163 per cent, 60 points; Strathfieldsaye 157, 52; Golden Square 172, 48; Gisborne 114, 32; Kangaroo Flat 75, 26; Castlemaine 74, 20; Eaglehawk 67, 10; South Bendigo 46, 8.
Schedule for Saturday’s qualifying finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval:
17-and-under at 10am: Strathfieldsaye v Golden Square.
B-reserve at 11.20am: Kangaroo Flat v Sandhurst.
B-grade at 12.40pm: Kangaroo Flat v South Bendigo.
A-reserve at 2pm: Gisborne v Sandhurst.
A-grade at 3.20pm: Sandhurst v Gisborne.
Schedule for Sunday’s elimination finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval:
17-and-under at 10am: Gisborne v Kangaroo Flat.
B-reserve at 11.20am: Strathfieldsaye v South Bendigo.
B-grade at 12.40pm: Strathfieldsaye v Sandhurst.
A-reserve at 2pm: South Bendigo v Strathfieldsaye.
A-grade at 3.20pm: South Bendigo v Eaglehawk.
Teams through to second semi-finals on September 6 at Queen Elizabeth Oval are Sandhurst, 17-and-under; Gisborne, B-reserve and B-grade, Kangaroo Flat, A-reserve and A-grade.