A REMATCH of last season’s grand finalists, Sandhurst and Kangaroo Flat highlights this Saturday’s fifth round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
The Dragons and Kangaroos will again meet on the court at Queen Elizabeth Oval from 2.30pm.
Last September it was the Jayden Cowling-coached Roos who achieved a long-awaited premiership victory when they beat the maroon and blue in the season decider by eight goals.
Both clubs have made strong starts to this season.
The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst is third on a three-nil record.
It’s been a disjointed run for the Dragons who won at Eaglehawk’s C & M Oval on Easter Saturday, beat Broadford at the QEO a week later, and then had a two week break courtesy of a bye and then the split fourth round.
Sandhurst marked its return to play by scoring a 25-goal win against Golden Square in last Saturday’s match at the QEO.
It’s been a big week for Kangaroo Flat which played Broadford last Tuesday night at Marist College Bendigo.
The reigning premier marked a 95-16 victory to be on top of the lader on a four-nil tally.
Another crucial match on Saturday will be at C & M Oval in Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park where the Two Blues play Strathfieldsaye Storm from 2.30pm.
It’s seventh against sixth.
The Jannelle Hobbs-coached Eaglehawk had a great match with South Bendigo on Anzac Day under the QEO lights.
A superb contest ended in a 58-52 win for South Bendigo.
Big test for the Hawks as Storm chalked up its first win of ’26 in last Saturday’s clash with Castlemaine at Triple M Park.
The Jess Mangan-coached Storm netted a 61-25 victory.
Castlemaine returns to The Railway Hotel Oval in Camp Reserve to take on Gisborne from 3.20pm in the Magpies’ home.
Massive challenge for the Vanessa Saunders-coached Castlemaine against the fourth-placed Gisborne.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne will be well-rested as it had the bye in the split fourth round.
After a three-goal loss at home to Kangaroo Flat in round one, Gisborne has struck back for wins against South Bendigo, 47-40, and Strathfieldsaye, 45-22.
Golden Square has the bye.
It’s also a rest for Broadford and South Bendigo who played in the stand-alone season launch match on March 28 at Broadford’s Harley Hammond Reserve.
The Lauren Bowles-coached Bloods dominated play on the Kangaroos’ court to win by 62 goals.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Kangaroo Flat 280 per cent, 16 points; South Bendigo 157, 16; Sandhurst 206, 12; Gisborne 125, 8; Golden Square 108, 8; Strathfieldsaye 109, 4; Eaglehawk 87, 4; Castlemaine 33, 0; Broadford 29, 0.
Bendigo FNL netball ladders after four rounds:
A-reserve:
South Bendigo 132 per cent, 16 points; Kangaroo Flat 162, 8; Sandhurst 148, 8; Gisborne 131, 8; Eaglehawk 81, 4; Golden Square 79, 4; Strathfieldsaye 62, 4; Castlemaine 68, 0.
B-grade:
South Bendigo 163 per cent, 16 points; Kangaroo Flat 194, 12; Sandhurst 188, 12; Golden Square 147, 12; Gisborne 134, 12; Strathfieldsaye 99, 4; Eaglehawk 66, 0; Castlemaine 38, 0; Broadford 32, 0.
B-reserve:
Kangaroo Flat 235 per cent, 16 points; South Bendigo 187, 16; Sandhurst 183, 12; Golden Square 138, 8; Gisborne 115, 8; Strathfieldsaye 104, 4; Eaglehawk 74, 4; Castlemaine 43, 0; Broadford 22, 0.
17-and-under:
Golden Square 311 per cent, 16 points; Strathfieldsaye 259, 12; South Bendigo 100, 12; Sandhurst 201, 8; Kangaroo Flat 137, 8; Eaglehawk 81, 8; Gisborne 100, 4; Castlemaine 39, 0; Broadford 20, 0.
15-and-under:
South Bendigo 160 per cent, 12 points; Sandhurst 230, 8; Golden Square 167, 8; Strathfieldsaye 108, 4; Kangaroo Flat 81, 4; Eaglehawk 64, 4; Castlemaine 54, 0.
