ROUND 5 NETBALL PREVIEW | Bloods take on fired-up Sandhurst
BY NATHAN DOLE
HEAT will be high as South Bendigo faces Sandhurst in Saturday’s start to the split fifth round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
The Bloods and Dragons are not just vying for premiership points as the Graeme Wright Memorial Cup will be at stake at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval.
A crucial match for the Lauren Bowles-coached South Bendigo against Sandhurst starts at 2.30pm.
After last week’s rest because Castlemaine is not fielding an A-grade team, South Bendigo will be back at home base in Neale Street for the first time since the round one win against Strathfieldsaye.
A new-look South Bendigo which has Gabe Richards leading the attack scored a 59-44 victory against the Jess Mangan-coached Strathfieldsaye in the first week of the season.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Dragons cooled their heels as the maroon and blue was drawn to play Castlemaine.
In week two, South Bendigo was beaten at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve by 16 goals as Sandhurst netted a 60-23 victory on Strathfieldsaye’s court at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
Round three began with the Anzac Day match between South Bendigo and Eaglehawk under the Queen Elizabeth Oval lights.
A great match ended in a 47-all draw with the Jannelle Hobbs-coached Hawks.
Sandhurst scored a 65-29 win on Golden Square’s court in Wade Street.
As the Bloods had a rest last Saturday, Sandhurst could not halt Kangaroo Flat’s charge to a 64-54 victory at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Bloods and Dragons showdown is the only match in A-grade this Saturday.
Gisborne will play Castlemaine in all other grades of netball at Gisborne’s Gardiner Reserve.
In the lower grades, South Bendigo has played well to be in the top five of A-reserve, B-grade and B-reserve.
The Bloods face a big challenge as Sandhurst is second in A-reserve and B-grade, and leads the B-reserve competition.
In week two of the split fifth round the ladder-leading Kangaroo Flat will be on its court in Dower Park to play Golden Square.
Eaglehawk takes on Strathfieldsaye at Canterbury Park in Simpson’s Road.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Kangaroo Flat 185 per cent, 12 points; Gisborne 120, 12; Sandhurst 154, 8; South Bendigo 99, 6; Eaglehawk 75, 6; Strathfieldsaye 64, 4; Golden Square 66, 0.
League ladders:
A-reserve:
Gisborne 162 per cent, 16 points; Sandhurst 171, 12; Kangaroo Flat 134, 12; South Bendigo 119, 8; Strathfieldsaye 87, 8; Eaglehawk 70, 4; Castlemaine 62, 4; Golden Square 59, 0.
B-grade:
Gisborne 200 per cent, 16 points; Sandhurst 144, 12; Kangaroo Flat 118, 12; South Bendigo 115, 12; Strathfieldsaye 86, 4; Golden Square 84, 4; Eaglehawk 60, 4; Castlemaine 56, 0.
B-reserve:
Sandhurst 218 per cent, 16 points; Gisborne 156, 16; Kangaroo Flat 174, 8; South Bendigo 135, 8; Strathfieldsaye 100, 8; Golden Square 104, 4; Eaglehawk 57, 4; Castlemaine 13, 0.
17-and-under:
Sandhurst 175 per cent, 16 points; Golden Square 200, 12; Gisborne 142, 12; Strathfieldsaye 152, 8; Kangaroo Flat 73, 6; Eaglehawk 70, 6; Castlemaine 59, 4; South Bendigo 35, 0.
