STRATHFIELDSAYE Storm steps on to the court at Queen Elizabeth Oval on Sunday to play Sandhurst in the match to complete Indigenous Round for A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.
The Storm and Dragons match will start at 1pm as teams contest a round to mark the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to country and sport.
It will be a huge test for the Jess Mangan-coached Strathfieldsaye which is fifth on the ladder following a 54-goal win against Broadford at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane the previous round.
Storm is against a formidable opponent which is third in the premiership race and outpointed South Bendigo to win the match on Graeme Wright Memorial Day by 13 goals.
Several of the stars in the Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst team were on the QEO court for last Saturday’s inter-league victory against Ovens and Murray.
Indigenous Round starts on Saturday with a 2pm start time for Broadford’s home game against Gisborne at Harley Hammond Reserve.
The Jaimie Hooper-coached Broadford will be working to hard to raise the pressure, especially in mid-court and defence.
Gisborne’s latest hit-out ended in a 27-goal win on its court at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gardiner Reserve against Eaglehawk.
The team in red, white and blue is coached by Tarryn Rymer who is a dual premiership-winning coach at the club in A-grade and coached the Bendigo FNL stars last Saturday against O & M.
It’s the battle of the Hawks and Magpies as Eaglehawk and Castlemaine meet at C & M Oval in Eaglehawk’s Canterbury Park from 2.30pm.
The Janelle Hobbs-coached Hawks are determined to return to the winner’s list and to stay in touch with the top five.
Eaglehawk was outpoined at Gisborne in round six as the Bulldogs charged to a 60-33 victory on their court.
The Vanessa Saunders-coached Castlemaine is back on court after a bye.
Golden Square and South Bendigo are both on the rebound from defeat as they play at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street from 3.20pm.
The Bulldogs and Bloods were up against Kangaroo Flat and Sandhurst respectively in the sixth round.
The Teigan Redwood-coached Golden Square was defeated 82-44 on Kangaroo Flat’s court at Bendigo Mazda Oval in Dower Park.
South Bendigo was beaten by 13 goals in its clash with Sandhurst at Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval.
There have been changes to both teams since they met at Golden Square last season, but the Lauren Bowles-coached Bloods will be wary after being upset by the blue and gold in its latest trek to Wade Street.
Kangaroo Flat has the bye.
Standings in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL A-grade netball competition:
Kangaroo Flat 220 per cent, 24 points; Gisborne 164, 16; Sandhurst 155, 16; South Bendigo 139, 16; Strathfieldsaye 135, 12; Golden Square 93, 8; Eaglehawk 83, 4; Castlemaine 32, 0; Broadford 30, 0.
Bendigo FNL netball ladders after six rounds:
A-reserve:
South Bendigo 138 per cent, 20 points; Kangaroo Flat 158, 16; Gisborne 141, 16; Sandhurst 101, 8; Eaglehawk 84, 8; Golden Square 70.6, 4; Strathfieldsaye 70, 4; Castlemaine 64, 0.
B-grade:
Gisborne 179 per cent, 20 points; Kangaroo Flat 174, 20; South Bendigo 156, 20; Sandhurst 131, 12; Golden Square 126, 12; Strathfieldsaye 115, 12; Eaglehawk 67, 0; Castlemaine 35, 0; Broadford 34, 0.
B-reserve:
Kangaroo Flat 198 per cent, 24 points; South Bendigo 169, 20; Gisborne 165, 16; Sandhurst 136, 12; Strathfieldsaye 132, 12; Golden Square 112, 8; Eaglehawk 70, 4; Castlemaine 38, 0; Broadford 23, 0.
17-and-under:
Strathfieldsaye 315 per cent, 20 points; Golden Square 250, 20; Sandhurst 202, 16; South Bendigo 89, 12; Gisborne 121, 10; Eaglehawk 74, 10; Kangaroo Flat 107, 8; Castlemaine 35, 0; Broadford 19, 0.
15-and-under:
Sandhurst 337 per cent, 16 points; Golden Square 189, 12; South Bendigo 99, 12; Eaglehawk 71, 8; Strathfieldsaye 103, 4; Kangaroo Flat 46, 4; Castlemaine 54, 0.
