ROUND 15 NETBALL PREVIEW | Jostling for double chance rolls on
JOSTLING for a double chance at netball finals time heats up in this Saturday’s 15th round of Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL action.
Although the order in A-grade is unlikely to change there is plenty of interest in the league’s other levels of play.
Kangaroo Flat’s fans will be keen to see the A-grade team’s unbeaten streak roll on.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos will be back on their Dower Park court this Saturday to play Eaglehawk from 2.30pm.
When these clubs met in round nine it was the Roos who marked a 74-33 victory at Dower Park.
A sign of Kangaroo Flat’s dominance in its 12-nil run is a tally of 845 goals for and 398 against.
The Roos are incredibly powerful in all thirds of the court.
Latest hit-out for the green and white ended in a 72-49 win against South Bendigo at Dower Park last Saturday.
Massive challenge for the Jannelle Hobbs-coached Eaglehawk to bring and keep a high level of intensity in every quarter.
A tough run for the Two Blues included last Saturday’s match against Sandhurst which went the way of the Dragons, 66-25 at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
This Saturday will be Eaglehawk’s final match until the elimination final on August 31.
The other two A-grade matches on Saturday will be at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve and Golden Square’s Wade Street.
Gisborne takes on Strathfieldsaye Storm.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne defeated Storm by 31 goals at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane in round 10.
Premier of the past two seasons, Gisborne began the split 14th round by winning on Golden Square’s court by 47 goals.
Gisborne will be determined to strengthen on-court connections as it prepares for the round 16 clash with Sandhurst at the QEO.
Storm will be back on court after the bye.
In the 13th round the Jess Mangan-coached Strathfieldsaye was on the end of a 41-goal loss to Kangaroo Flat in Storm territory.
Great rivals in many sports, Golden Square and Sandhurst will clash at Wade Street in Golden Square.
The Teigan Redwood-coached Golden Square will be determined to avoid a 40-plus goal defeat as it was in round 10.
Been a tough run for the blue and gold which played Gisborne in week one of the split 14th round and now takes on the second-placed Sandhurst.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst was in hot form against Eaglehawk at the QEO last Saturday.
It’s a bye for South Bendigo in A-grade, but the Bloods will make their way down the Calder to play Castlemaine in all other grades at Camp Reserve.
The Lauren Bowles-coached South Bendigo has secured a start in the elimination final.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition after 14 rounds:
Kangaroo Flat 212 per cent, 48 points; Sandhurst 164, 40; Gisborne 129, 28; South Bendigo 80, 22; Eaglehawk 72, 18; Strathfieldsaye 60, 8; Golden Square 56, 4.
Big interest in this Saturday’s matches in B-grade centre on play at Gisborne and Castlemaine.
Two teams, Strathfieldsaye and South Bendigo start the round locked on 36 points and on the third and fourth rungs.
Strathfieldsaye Storm will play the ladder-leading Gisborne on its court, while the fourth-placed South Bendigo will start favourite on Castlemaine’s court.
By Saturday evening the positions could be flipped and South Bendigo holding the double chance a week out from the first pass in the finals series.
There are three teams locked on 40 points in B-reserve.
Second in the title race, Kangaroo Flat will be at home against Eaglehawk.
Sandhurst makes its way to Golden Square’s court in Wade Street, and Strathfieldsaye takes on the ladder-leading Gisborne.
In the 17-and-under competition fifth and sixth-placed Kangaroo Flat and Castlemaine are separated by two points.
Both will start favourite in their respective matches.
The Kangaroos are up against Eaglehawk at Dower Park as Castlemaine hosts the young Bloods from South Bendigo at Camp Reserve.
Bendigo FNL netball ladders after 14 rounds:
A-reserve:
Kangaroo Flat 149 per cent, 52 points; Gisborne 152, 46; Sandhurst 143, 38; South Bendigo 110, 32; Strathfieldsaye 92, 26; Eaglehawk 75, 16; Castlemaine 65, 10; Golden Square 60, 4.
B-grade:
Gisborne 231 per cent, 56 points; Kangaroo Flat 123, 44; Strathfieldsaye 123, 36; South Bendigo 107, 36; Sandhurst 114, 28; Eaglehawk 77, 12; Golden Square 69, 12; Castlemaine 42, 0.
B-reserve:
Gisborne 212 per cent, 56 points; Kangaroo Flat 168, 40; Sandhurst 159, 40; Strathfieldsaye 139, 40; South Bendigo 105, 24; Golden Square 78, 12; Eaglehawk 69, 12; Castlemaine 17, 0.
17-and-under:
Sandhurst 172 per cent, 56 points; Golden Square 191, 44; Strathfieldsaye 162, 44; Gisborne 122, 32; Kangaroo Flat 69, 18; Castlemaine 70, 16; South Bendigo 43, 8; Eaglehawk 63, 6.
