WEEK 1 FINALS NETBALL REVIEW | Sandhurst sets up showdown with Kangaroos

SANDHURST set up another showdown with Kangaroo Flat as it won the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL’s A-grade netball qualifying final against Gisborne on Saturday.

Just two goals separated Sandhurst and Gisborne at three quarter-time of another superb match at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

It was goal-for-goal in the opening two terms as scores were 13-all at quarter-time and 23-all at half-time.

The Dragons won the third, 9-7.

In the last term it was the Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst which seized control.

As the Dragons poured in 14 goals they kept Gisborne to a tally of five.

A 46-35 victory meant Sandhurst rolls into next Saturday’s second semi-final against the unbeaten Kangaroo Flat.

The Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroos have dominated many matches this season.

In the A-reserve competition, Sandhurst scored a seven-goal win against Gisborne in the qualifying final.

The Dragons were up by four goals at quarter-time and by margins of six and seven at the next two breaks.

By the final siren Sandhurst led 48-41.

Kangaroo Flat won three quarters in the B-grade qualifying final against South Bendigo.

The Roos made a flying start to be up 15-6 at quarter-time.

By the long break Kangaroo Flat led 28-13.

South Bendigo upped the pressure in the third and was rewarded with nine goals as the Roos added five.

The final term went Flat’s way, 12-10, to seal a 45-32 victory.

A great day for Kangaroo Flat included a seven-goal win in the B-reserve match against Sandhurst.

The Roos led 9-8 at quarter-time and then unleashed a 16-goal blitz in the second.

By half-time Kangaroo Flat led 25-11.

Quarter three went the way of the Dragons, 12-10.

Although Sandhurst won the last, 11-6, it was Kangaroo Flat which claimed a 41-34 win and a place in the second semi-final.

The finals action tipped off with the 17-and-under qualifying final between Strathfieldsaye and Golden Square.

The Strathfieldsaye Storm line-up surged to an 11-9 lead by quarter-time.

In the second it was Golden Square which controlled a lot of the play.

The blue and gold won the term, 14-7, and was up 23-18 by the long break.

Both teams scored eight goals in the third quarter.

Storm won the last, 12-10, but it was the Bulldogs who netted a 41-38 victory.

It was three wins from as many starts for South Bendigo in Sunday’s elimination finals.

The Lauren Bowles-coached South Bendigo marked a return to A-grade finals by dominating the clash with Eaglehawk.

Led by a 49-goal haul by gun goaler Gabe Richards the Bloods marked a 59-38 victory.

The Bloods were up 15-8 at quarter-time and 33-17 by the long break.

Quarter three went the way of the red and white, 12-9.

Closest term was the last in which South Bendigo scored 14 goals and the Jannelle Hobbs-coached Eaglehawk fought on to add 12 goals.

At the final siren South Bendigo led 59-38 to set up a first semi-final clash with Gisborne next Sunday.

It’s one-all in this season’s meetings between the Bloods and Bulldogs.

South Bendigo won three of four quarters in the A-reserve elimination final against Strathfieldsaye.

The Bloods led 13-11 at the first break and 27-19 by half-time.

Storm hit back to win the third term, 9-7.

It was a strong finish by South Bendigo as it poured in 16 goals to complete a 50-37 victory.

Strathfieldsaye Storm dominated the B-grade clash to put Sandhurst out of the premiership race.

Storm led 12-10 at quarter-time and then won the next two quarters – 16-8 and 14-5.

It was 10-all in the last as Strathfieldsaye marked a 52-33 victory.

Closest result in the elimination finals was in B-reserve where South Bendigo defeated Strathfieldsaye by three goals.

Storm led 9-8 at quarter-time and 22-18 by half-time.

The Bloods then won the third, 10-5, and was up 28-27 rolling into the final quarter.

South Bendigo outscored Storm in the last, 9-7.

A 37-34 victory meant the Bloods rolled into a first semi-final showdown with Sandhurst.

Elimination final day between with the 17-and-under match between Gisborne and Kangaroo Flat.

The Bulldogs led 11-8 at quarter-time and 22-17 by the main break.

A closely-fought third term went Gisborne’s way, 12-10.

Sandhurst fired up to win the last, 13-11, but a 45-40 victory meant Gisborne advanced to Sunday’s first semi-final against Strathfieldsaye Storm.

Bendigo FNL netball qualifying finals scoreboard:

A-grade: Sandhurst 46 d Gisborne 35.

A-reserve: Sandhurst 48 d Gisborne 41.

B-grade: Kangaroo Flat 45 d South Bendigo 32.

B-reserve: Kangaroo Flat 41 d Sandhurst 34.

17-and-under: Golden Square 41 d Strathfieldsaye 38.

Bendigo FNL netball elimination finals scoreboard:

A-grade: South Bendigo 59 d Eaglehawk 38.

A-reserve: South Bendigo 50 d Strathfieldsaye 37.

B-grade: Strathfieldsaye 52 d Sandhurst 33.

B-reserve: South Bendigo 37 d Strathfieldsaye 34.

17-and-under: Gisborne 45 d Kangaroo Flat 40.

Schedule for Saturday’s second semi-finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval in View Street, Bendigo:

17-and-under at 10am: Sandhurst v Golden Square.

B-reserve at 11.20am: Gisborne v Kangaroo Flat.

B-grade at 12.40pm: Gisborne v Kangaroo Flat.

A-reserve at 1pm: Kangaroo Flat v Sandhurst.

A-grade at 3.20pm: Kangaroo Flat v Sandhurst.

Schedule for Sunday’s first semi-finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval in View Street, Bendigo:

17-and-under at 10am: Strathfieldsaye v Gisborne.

B-reserve at 11.20am: Sandhurst v South Bendigo.

B-grade at 12.40pm: South Bendigo v Strathfieldsaye.

A-reserve at 2pm: Gisborne v South Bendigo.

A-grade at 3.20pm: Gisborne v South Bendigo.