ROUND 5 WEEK 2 NETBALL PREVIEW
BY NATHAN DOLE
Fifth place at stake on Eaglehawk’s court
EAGLEHAWK faces a fight to hold fifth place on the A-grade netball ladder in Saturday’s completion to the split fifth round in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
The Hawks take on Strathfieldsaye Storm at Canterbury Park in Eaglehawk from 2.30pm.
Victory would give the Jannelle Hobbs-coached Hawks a six-point buffer to Storm in the race for a finals berth.
In the previous round Eaglehawk took on Gisborne at Gardiner Reserve.
The Two Blues worked hard, but could not halt the premier of the past two seasons charging to a 48-32 victory.
Confidence in the Jess Mangan-coached Storm line-up will have risen after a 48-43 win against Golden Square at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane in round four.
Saturday’s other A-grade match on Saturday will be at Kangaroo Flat’s Dower Park where the Kangaroos take on Golden Square from 1.30pm.
Unbeaten and on top of the ladder, Kangaroo Flat has plenty of experience and skill in all thirds of the court.
The Jayden Cowling-coached Roos beat Sandhurst by 10 goals in round four at Queen Elizabeth Oval and will again bring a fierce competitive streak to the court.
Another big test for the Teigan Redwood-coached Golden Square against the ladder-leaders.
Round five began with a 75-32 victory for Sandhurst against South Bendigo at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval.
It was a rest for Gisborne in A-grade, but the Bulldogs played Castlemaine in all other grades at Gardiner Reserve.
Standings in the Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Kangaroo Flat 185 per cent, 12 points; Sandhurst 171, 12; Gisborne 120, 12; South Bendigo 79, 6; Eaglehawk 75, 6; Strathfieldsaye 64, 4; Golden Square 66, 0.
League ladders:
A-reserve:
Gisborne 177 per cent, 20 points; Sandhurst 165, 16; Kangaroo Flat 134, 12; South Bendigo 107, 8; Strathfieldsaye 87, 8; Eaglehawk 70, 4; Castlemaine 57, 4; Golden Square 59, 0.
B-grade:
Gisborne 238 per cent, 20 points; South Bendigo 119, 16; Sandhurst 128, 12; Kangaroo Flat 118, 12; Strathfieldsaye 86, 4; Golden Square 84, 4; Eaglehawk 60, 4; Castlemaine 46, 0.
B-reserve:
Gisborne 216 per cent, 20 points; Sandhurst 200, 20; Kangaroo Flat 174, 8; South Bendigo 115, 8; Strathfieldsaye 100, 8; Golden Square 104, 4; Eaglehawk 57, 4; Castlemaine 11, 0.
17-and-under:
Sandhurst 196 per cent, 20 points; Gisborne 148, 16; Golden Square 200, 12; Strathfieldsaye 152, 8; Kangaroo Flat 73, 6; Eaglehawk 70, 6; Castlemaine 59, 4; South Bendigo 34, 0.
