SANDHURST held on for a one-goal victory against A-grade netball rival Kangaroo Flat in Saturday’s fourth round of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League season.
The maroon and blue played out a great match with the Roos on the court adjacent to Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Both line-ups are tipped to be among the frontrunners for this year’s premiership and their showdown did not disappoint the fans.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst took charge in the third quarter, but the Roos bounced back to be in striking distance going into the final term.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroo Flat capitalised on some turnovers to draw level in the last, but it was Sandhurst which held its nerve to claim a 52-51 victory.
Further south and Kyneton put in a superb effort on its court at Kyneton Showgrounds to mark a 52-all draw with South Bendigo.
The Tigers followed up their win the previous round at Strathfieldsaye to stay with the highly-rated Bloods until the final whistle.
At Castlemaine it was a great duel between the Magpies and Strathfieldsaye Storm.
The Pies were hot favourite to take the points, but were made to hard work by a desperate Storm line-up.
Castlemaine fought on for a 60-56 result.
Gisborne was too strong for Maryborough at Princes Park.
The team in red, white and blue won 54-36.
Eaglehawk broke its season ‘duck’ and hit the 60-goal mark in an impressive performance against Golden Square at Canterbury Park.
The Hawks won 60-33.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Sandhurst 175 per cent, 16 points; Kangaroo Flat 235, 12; Gisborne 116, 12; Castlemaine 111, 12; South Bendigo 122, 10; Kyneton 76, 6; Maryborough 76, 4; Strathfieldsaye 74, 4; Eaglehawk 72, 4; Golden Square 39, 0.
A highlight of next Saturday’s fifth round will be South Bendigo up against Castlemaine at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Golden Square hosts Sandhurst at Fur Life Oval in Wade Street, and Kangaroo Flat faces a fired-up Kyneton at Dower Park.
Strathfieldsaye Storm will play Gisborne at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane, and Maryborough takes on Eaglehawk in the battle of the Magpies and Hawks at Maryborough’s Princes Park.
Written by Nathan Dole.