A LENGTHY rest for Sandhurst’s netball teams will be ended in this Saturday’s play to complete round four in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
Sandhurst takes on Golden Square at Queen Elizabeth Oval as the league becomes part of the Pat Cronin Foundation Round across the state.
It’s third against fourth as the Dragons and Bulldogs meet at Queen Elizabeth Oval from 2.30pm.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst has not played since a 99-28 victory against Broadford at the QEO in round two on April 11.
A bye for the maroon and blue was then followed by another rest for the stand-alone Anzac Day matches between South Bendigo and Eaglehawk at the QEO.
The Dragons will start favourite to take the points against the blue and gold.
Golden Square takes a two-one record into this match.
The Teigan Redwood-coached Golden Square won its first-round match on Castlemaine’s court at The Railway Hotel Oval in Camp Reserve by 39 goals.
A week later and the Bulldogs were humbled in a 72-39 loss on Eaglehawk’s court at C & M Oval in Canterbury Park.
Golden Square hit back to win the showdown with Broadford on the Kangaroos’ court at Harley Hammond Reserve by 37 goals.
First of Saturday’s matches in A-grade will be at 2pm when Kangaroo Flat hosts Broadford at Dower Park.
The reigning premier and the league newcomer meet in the marquee match for the Pat Cronin Foundation Round.
Been a superb run by the Jayden Cowling-coached Kangaroo Flat as it chases back-to-back premierships.
Kangaroo Flat won the first-round match at Gisborne by three goals and then won the home game against Castlemaine by 79 goals.
Latest contest for the Roos was at Eaglehawk where they scored a 70-36 victory.
It’s been a tough run for the Jaimie Hooper-coached Broadford in its debut season in the competition.
The Roos played South Bendigo at Harley Hammond Reserve in the stand-alone match on March 28 and then had a bye.
After a rest the Kangas were up against the powerful Sandhurst at the QEO.
In the third round Broadford hosted Golden Square where the visitors won by 37 goals.
Strathfieldsaye or Castlemaine will net their first premiership points of the season when they play on Storm’s court at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane from 2.30pm.
The Jess Mangan-coached Strathfieldsaye went down to South Bendigo in round one by two goals, had a bye, and then played at Gisborne where the Tarryn Rymer-coached Bulldogs won 45-22.
Castlemaine has made its way back to fielding an A-grade team of which Vanessa Saunders is coach.
The Magpies have played Golden Square, Kangaroo Flat and South Bendigo so far.
Despite the winless run there have been many positives for the young team representing Castlemaine.
The split fourth round began with the Anzac Day match in which the Lauren Bowles-coached South Bendigo defeated Eaglehawk by six goals.
The Jannelle Hobbs-coached Hawks are sixth on a one-three record rolling into the May 9 match at home against Strathfieldsaye.
Gisborne has the bye.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
South Bendigo 157 per cent, 16 points; Kangaroo Flat 226, 12; Sandhurst 246, 8; Golden Square 130, 8; Gisborne 125, 8; Eaglehawk 87, 4; Strathfieldsaye 71, 0; Broadford 34, 0; Castlemaine 31, 0.
Bendigo FNL netball ladders:
A-reserve:
South Bendigo 132 per cent, 16 points; Kangaroo Flat 162, 8; Gisborne 131, 8; Sandhurst 125, 4; Golden Square 92, 4; Eaglehawk 81, 4; Castlemaine 61, 0; Strathfieldsaye 48, 0.
B-grade:
South Bendigo 163 per cent, 16 points; Golden Square 192, 12; Gisborne 134, 12; Sandhurst 233, 8; Kangaroo Flat 166, 8; Eaglehawk 66, 0; Strathfieldsaye 62, 0; Castlemaine 37, 0; Broadford 33, 0.
B-reserve:
South Bendigo 187, 16; Kangaroo Flat 177, 12; Sandhurst 215, 8; Golden Square 165, 8; Gisborne 115, 8; Eaglehawk 74, 4; Strathfieldsaye 71, 0; Castlemaine 43, 0; Broadford 23, 0.
17-and-under:
Golden Square 416 per cent, 12 points; South Bendigo 100, 12; Sandhurst 315, 8; Strathfieldsaye 210, 8; Eaglehawk 81, 8; Kangaroo Flat 108, 4; Gisborne 100, 4; Castlemaine 44, 0; Broadford 19, 0.
15-and-under:
South Bendigo 160 per cent, 12 points; Golden Square 307, 8; Sandhurst 323, 4; Kangaroo Flat 81, 4; Eaglehawk 64, 4; Castlemaine 55, 0; Strathfieldsaye 51, 0.
