THE Bloods from South Bendigo will up the pressure when they play on Gisborne’s court in Saturday’s 11th round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
It’s a huge match for the Bloods and Bulldogs at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
The showdown between fourth and third starts at 2.30pm.
Both teams are locked on six wins, but it’s Gisborne which holds third place on percentage.
The Lauren Bowles-coached South Bendigo is yet to beat any of the competition’s top three this season.
In round two it was Gisborne which scored a 47-40 victory on South Bendigo’s court at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne will be determined to bounce back from last Saturday’s 10-goal loss to Kangaroo Flat at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Dower Park.
As the Bulldogs were beaten the Bloods scored a 63-44 win at home against Strathfieldsaye Storm.
First of the A-grade matches on Saturday will be at 1.30pm when Golden Square plays Eaglehawk at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.
It’s an extremely close tussle on the premiership ladder between the Bulldogs and Hawks who are locked on 12 premiership points.
Golden Square is on 95.3 per cent and Eaglehawk on 95.2.
The winner has a chance to dislodge the Jess Mangan-coached Strathfieldsaye from the fifth rung.
When these clubs met in round two it was the Janelle Hobbs-coached Hawks who dominated on their court at C and M Oval in Canterbury Park to win by 33 goals.
The Teigan Redwood-coached Golden Square will have gained plenty of confidence from an 80-39 win against Castlemaine in Wade Street last Saturday.
Eaglehawk’s on the rebound from a 37-goal loss to Sandhurst.
The Sandhurst line-up makes its to Broadford’s Harley Hammond Reserve to play the Kangaroos from 2pm.
A Dragons’ line-up coached by Tamara Gilchrist has plenty of running power and skill in all thirds of the court.
Broadford’s back on court after the bye.
The Jaimie Hooper-coached Broadford played well in a 57-43 loss at Castlemaine in round eight.
A week later and the Roos battled for goals in an 11-60 loss to Eaglehawk in Broadford.
Castlemaine will be on its court at The Railway Hotel Oval in Camp Reserve to play Kangaroo Flat from 3.20pm.
It’s another massive test for the Vanessa Saunders-coached Castlemaine against the reigning premier.
Unbeaten in the run to premiership glory in ’25 the Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos are nine-nil this season.
Strathfieldsaye has the bye.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Kangaroo Flat 194 per cent, 36 points; Sandhurst 164, 32; Gisborne 160, 24; South Bendigo 123, 24; Strathfieldsaye 97, 16; Golden Square 95.3 12; Eaglehawk 95.2, 12; Castlemaine 46, 4; Broadford 30, 0.
Bendigo FNL netball ladders after 10 rounds:
A-reserve:
Kangaroo Flat 152 per cent, 28 points;
South Bendigo 132, 28;
Sandhurst 120, 24;
Gisborne 137, 20;
Eaglehawk 88, 12;
Strathfieldsaye 69, 8;
Castlemaine 69, 4;
Golden Square 65, 4.
B-grade:
Gisborne 208 per cent, 36 points; South Bendigo 144, 28; Strathfieldsaye 120, 28; Kangaroo Flat 126, 20; Sandhurst 118, 20; Golden Square 92, 16; Broadford 51, 8; Eaglehawk 79, 4; Castlemaine 44, 0.
B-reserve:
Gisborne 181 per cent, 32 points; Kangaroo Flat 160, 32; South Bendigo 150, 26; Sandhurst 126, 24; Strathfieldsaye 116, 18; Golden Square 93, 12; Eaglehawk 92, 12; Castlemaine 49, 4; Broadford 26, 0.
17-and-under:
Golden Square 184 per cent, 32 points; Sandhurst 192, 28; Strathfieldsaye 173, 28; Gisborne 123, 20; Kangaroo Flat 107, 18; Eaglehawk 91, 18; South Bendigo 86, 12; Castlemaine 45, 4; Broadford 25, 0.
15-and-under:
Sandhurst 383 per cent, 28 points; Golden Square 225, 24; South Bendigo 97, 20; Eaglehawk 76, 12; Strathfieldsaye 79, 8; Kangaroo Flat 53, 4; Castlemaine 34, 0.
