ROUND 4 NETBALL PREVIEW | Dragons put heat on Kangaroos

BY NATHAN DOLE

SANDHURST will turn up the heat when the Dragons take on Kangaroo Flat in this Saturday’s fourth round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.

The Dragons and Kangaroos will play on the court at Queen Elizabeth Oval from an earlier game time of 12.40pm.

It’s a rematch of last season’s preliminary finalists.

When they met last September it was the Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos which ended Sandhurst’s run at another premiership.

Both teams have made a strong start to the ’25 campaign.

A two-nil record has the Kangaroos on top of the ladder.

The Dragons are also the only other unbeaten team in A-grade and hold second place in the premiership race.

The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst teamed superbly to win last Saturday’s match on Golden Square’s court by 36 goals.

The team in maroon and blue reached the 65-goal mark, but know the pressure from the Roos’ defence and mid-court will be at another level.

Kangaroo Flat’s run began with a 64-26 win against Gisborne in the rematch of last season’s grand finalists in the opening round.

The Roos then won 70-17 at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park and then had a rest last Saturday as Castlemaine is not fielding an A-grade team.

It’s fifth against third as Eaglehawk takes on Gisborne from 2.30pm on Saturday at Canterbury Park.

The Jannelle Hobbs-coached Eaglehawk showed plenty of fight to achieve a 47-all draw with South Bendigo in the Anzac Day match played under lights at the QEO.

Massive test for the Two Blues against Gisborne which is chasing a hat-trick of A-grade premierships.

Stung by the big defeat on the Kangaroos’ court in round one, Gisborne has struck back to beat South Bendigo by 16 goals and Strathfieldsaye by 28 goals.

The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne has a strong defence, plenty of pace and skill in mid-court and a powerful attack.

Strathfieldsaye or Golden Square will net four points for the first time this season when they clash at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane from 2.30pm.

Been a tough run for the Jess Mangan-coached Strathfieldsaye which played South Bendigo at Harry Trott Oval in round one and has since taken on Sandhurst and Gisborne.

Golden Square struggled to pass Sandhurst’s strong defence in last Saturday’s match on the Bulldogs’ court in Golden Square’s Wade Street.

The Teigan Redwood-coached blue and gold was at home against Eaglehawk in round one, had a bye and then met the Dragons.

It’s a bye for South Bendigo in A-grade, but the Bloods will play in all other grades at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.

The Lauren Cowling-coached South Bendigo has a win, loss and draw across its opening three matches.

Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:

Kangaroo Flat 252 per cent, 8 points; Sandhurst 240, 8; Gisborne 113, 8; South Bendigo 99, 6; Eaglehawk 77, 6; Golden Square 57, 0; Strathfieldsaye 52, 0.

League ladders:

A-reserve:

Sandhurst 213 per cent, 12 points; Gisborne 140, 12; Kangaroo Flat 144, 8; South Bendigo 102, 4; Eaglehawk 85, 4; Strathfieldsaye 70, 4; Castlemaine 65, 4; Golden Square 57, 0.

B-grade:

Gisborne 172 per cent, 12 points; Sandhurst 169, 12; Kangaroo Flat 123, 8; South Bendigo 103, 8; Golden Square 94, 4; Eaglehawk 75, 4; Strathfieldsaye 69, 0; Castlemaine 55, 0.

B-reserve:

Sandhurst 275 per cent, 12 points; Kangaroo Flat 227, 8; Gisborne 135, 8; South Bendigo 92, 8; Golden Square 119, 4; Strathfieldsaye 89, 4; Eaglehawk 65, 4; Castlemaine 13, 0.

17-and-under:

Sandhurst 153 per cent, 12 points; Golden Square 225, 8; Strathfieldsaye 198, 8; Gisborne 131, 8; Kangaroo Flat 90, 6; Eaglehawk 77, 6; Castlemaine 39, 0; South Bendigo 30, 0.