Round 10 Netball Preview | Hawks under pressure from Bloods
PRESSURE will be on as Eaglehawk faces South Bendigo in Saturday’s 10th round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
The Hawks and Bloods will play on the Borough’s court in Canterbury Park.
Locked on 14 points, Eaglehawk and South Bendigo are just two points behind the third-placed South Bendigo.
It was 47-all when South Bendigo met Eaglehawk under the Queen Elizabeth Oval lights on Anzac Day.
This Saturday’s showdown on the Two Blues court may well be an elimination final prelude.
Opposing coaches Jannelle Hobbs and Lauren Bowles know one another well from the days they teamed up as coach and player at Kangaroo Flat.
Both have achieved plenty of success in their respective coaching stints.
Hobbs with Kangaroo Flat, South Bendigo and now Eaglehawk.
A multiple premiership-winning coach at White Hills, Bowles crossed to South Bendigo this season.
On court, Eaglehawk will be determined to hit back from a 41-goal loss at Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park last round.
The Two Blues battled to halt the Kangaroos’ slick movement from mid-court to attack.
As the Hawks were beaten, South Bendigo marked its best victory of the season against Gisborne at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval.
The inclusion of Bendigo Strikers team-mates Gabe Richards and Bridgette Furphy to the attack was a huge plus for South Bendigo.
The Bloods led 14-12 at quarter-time and 28-22 by the long break.
The Tarrryn Rymer-coached Gisborne fought back to win the third term, 15-11.
Both line-ups scored 12 goals in the last as South Bendigo clung on for a 51-49 victory against the reigning premier.
The focus for the Bloods is to build on the momentum from that match and push for a possible top-three finish and double chance at finals time.
Round 10 will also feature Sandhurst against Golden Square on Ron Best Memorial Shield Day at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst won last Saturday’s match against Strathfieldsaye at the QEO by 35 goals.
A red-hot Dragons attack poured in 74 goals in the team’s sixth victory of the season.
Golden Square had the bye last Saturday.
In round three the Teigan Redwood-coached Golden Square went down to Sandhurst by 36 goals.
Just a few weeks ago the blue and gold played brilliant netball to defeat South Bendigo on the Bulldogs’ court in Wade Street.
Strathfieldsaye faces a Gisborne line-up on the rebound from defeat when they meet at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
Another big challenge for the Jess Mangan-coached Storm following last Saturday’s game against Sandhurst.
In round three it was the Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne which beat Storm at Gardiner Reserve by 28 goals.
It’s a rest for Kangaroo Flat in A-grade this round, but the Roos will make their way down the Calder to play in all other netball grades at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Kangaroo Flat 225 per cent, 32 points; Sandhurst 169, 24; Gisborne 106, 16; Eaglehawk 77.4, 14; South Bendigo 77.1, 14; Golden Square 64, 4; Strathfieldsaye 61, 4.
Bendigo FNL netball ladders after nine rounds:
A-reserve:
Kangaroo Flat 149 per cent, 32 points; Gisborne 147, 30; Sandhurst 144, 26; Strathfieldsaye 96, 20; South Bendigo 95, 16; Eaglehawk 81, 12; Castlemaine 65, 8; Golden Square 64, 0.
B-grade:
Gisborne 213 per cent, 36 points; Kangaroo Flat 115, 28; Sandhurst 125, 20; Strathfieldsaye 110, 20; South Bendigo 96, 20; Golden Square 85, 12; Eaglehawk 76, 8; Castlemaine 45, 0.
B-reserve:
Gisborne 201 per cent, 36 points; Sandhurst 169, 28; Strathfieldsaye 135, 28; Kangaroo Flat 136, 20; Golden Square 106, 12; South Bendigo 96, 12; Eaglehawk 68, 8; Castlemaine 18, 0.
17-and-under:
Sandhurst 177 per cent, 36 points; Golden Square 211, 32; Strathfieldsaye 163, 24; Gisborne 135, 24; Kangaroo Flat 73, 14; Castlemaine 65, 8; Eaglehawk 64, 6; South Bendigo 36, 0.
