ROUND 13 NETBALL PREVIEW | Great rivals meet on Gisborne’s court
A FIERCE netball rivalry between Gisborne and Sandhurst will be renewed in Saturday’s round 13 showdown in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
The Bulldogs and Dragons will clash on Gisborne’s court in Gardiner Reserve.
It’s likely to be a qualifying final prelude between these clubs who have played many great matches.
Little has separated the teams, but in round six of this season it was the Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst which beat Gisborne at Queen Elizabeth Oval by 18 goals.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne will be determined to reverse the result this Saturday.
Gisborne’s run to back-to-back premierships included a one-goal win against Sandhurst in the 2023 grand final.
An incredible run of four consecutive grand final wins by Sandhurst across 2017-19 and in ’22 included a six-goal victory against Gisborne to complete the 2018 season.
As Sandhurst won last Saturday’s clash with South Bendigo by 23 goals it was a rest for Gisborne because Castlemaine is not fielding an A-grade team.
South Bendigo returns to Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street to play Golden Square.
Back in round six the Teigan Redwood-coached Golden Square stunned the Bloods in a 44-39 victory on the Wade Street court.
The Bloods and Bulldogs are both on the rebound from defeat.
As the Lauren Bowles-coached South Bendigo was beaten by Sandhurst last round, Golden Square could not halt a rampaging Kangaroo Flat on its way to a 58-goal win on the Bulldogs’ court.
This Saturday it’s Strathfieldsaye Storm which faces the unbeaten Kangaroo Flat.
The Jess Mangan-coached Storm worked hard in a 45-41 loss to Eaglehawk in the 12th round at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
A formidable Kangaroo Flat team coached by Jayden Cowling defeated Storm by 55 goals in round six.
There’s plenty of attacking power in the Roos’ squad, but strong defence has played a big part in this season’s success.
It’s a rest for the Jannelle Hobbs-coached Eaglehawk this round, but the Two Blues will play Castlemaine in all other grades at Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Kangaroo Flat 218 per cent, 40 points; Sandhurst 162, 32; Gisborne 123, 24; South Bendigo 78, 18; Eaglehawk 77, 18; Strathfieldsaye 63, 8; Golden Square 57, 4.
Bendigo FNL netball ladders after 12 rounds:
A-reserve:
Kangaroo Flat 153 per cent, 44 points; Gisborne 157, 42; Sandhurst 137, 30; South Bendigo 108, 28; Strathfieldsaye 93, 24; Eaglehawk 76, 12; Castlemaine 61, 8; Golden Square 63, 4.
B-grade:
Gisborne 231 per cent, 48 points; Kangaroo Flat 130, 40; South Bendigo 104, 32; Strathfieldsaye 115, 28; Sandhurst 119, 24; Golden Square 76, 12; Eaglehawk 71, 8; Castlemaine 42, 0.
B-reserve:
Gisborne 216 per cent, 48 points; Sandhurst 164, 36; Strathfieldsaye 129, 36; Kangaroo Flat 173, 32; South Bendigo 108, 20; Golden Square 83, 12; Eaglehawk 64, 8; Castlemaine 17, 0.
17-and-under:
Sandhurst 174 per cent, 48 points; Golden Square 187, 36; Strathfieldsaye 155, 36; Gisborne129, 32; Kangaroo Flat 69, 18; Castlemaine 72, 12; Eaglehawk 63, 6; South Bendigo 41, 4.
