SOUTH Bendigo and Gisborne were victorious in the weekend’s start to the A-grade finals series in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League.
The Lauren Bowles-coached South Bendigo scored a 13-goal victory against Eaglehawk in Sunday’s elimination final at Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane.
It was one-all between the Bloods and Hawks in the home-and-away series.
South Bendigo won the Anzac Day clash under the lights at Queen Elizabeth Oval by six goals.
When they met in the 13th round it was the Janelle Hobbs-coached Eaglehawk which dominated most of the play on the C and M Oval court in Canterbury Park to record a 75-60 victory.
An elimination final brought out the best in the Bloods and Hawks.
There were 121 goals poured in as South Bendigo marked a 67-54 victory.
The Bloods will now meet Sandhurst in next Sunday’s first semi-final at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Sandhurst is on the rebound from a three-goal loss to Gisborne in Saturday’s qualifying final played at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street.
A superb match between the fierce rivals went into extra time after scores were 44-all at the end of the fourth quarter.
Gisborne took control to record a 55-52 victory.
The Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne now has a two-one record in this season’s showdowns with the Dragons.
Gisborne won the round 17 match on Sandhurst’s court at the QEO by four goals.
In round eight the Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst won 44-40 on Gisborne’s court at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gardiner Reserve.
Gisborne will now prepare to take on unbeaten reigning premier Kangaroo Flat in next Saturday’s second semi-final at the QEO.
Five clubs had wins in the elimination finals.
Biggest margin of the day was in A-reserve where Sandhurst scored a 71-44 win against Eaglehawk.
A closely-fought B-grade clash between Kangaroo Flat and Sandhurst went the way of the Roos by six goals.
Strathfieldsaye Storm surged to a 53-38 victory against Sandhurst in B-grade.
Closest margin was in the 17-and-under class where South Bendigo claimed a 47-44 win against Eaglehawk.
It was not all doom for Eaglehawk as the 15-and-under team scored a 14-goal victory against Strathfieldsaye.
A memorable start to Gisborne’s finals campaign began with three victory in Saturday’s qualifying finals.
The Bulldogs’ win in A-grade followed a one-goal victory against South Bendigo in A-reserve, and an 11-goal win for B-reserve against South Bendigo.
Strathfieldsaye won the B-grade and 17-and-under contests.
Storm netted a 50-33 victory against South Bendigo, and won the 17-and-under clash with Golden Square by two goals.
At 15-and-under level it was Golden Square which claimed a 56-46 victory against the young Bloods on their court at Harry Trott Oval.
Bendigo FNL netball, elimination finals scoreboard:
A-grade: South Bendigo 67 d Eaglehawk 54.
A-reserve: Sandhurst 71 d Eaglehawk 44.
B-grade: Kangaroo Flat 41 d Sandhurst 35.
B-reserve: Strathfieldsaye 53 d Sandhurst 38.
17-and-under: South Bendigo 47 d Eaglehawk 44.
15-and-under: Eaglehawk 36 d Strathfieldsaye 22.
Bendigo FNL netball, qualifying finals scoreboard:
A-grade: Gisborne 55 d Sandhurst 52 (extra time).
A-reserve: Gisborne 50 d South Bendigo 49.
B-grade: Strathfieldsaye 50 d South Bendigo 33.
B-reserve: Gisborne 48 d South Bendigo 37.
17-and-under: Strathfieldsaye 42 d Golden Square 40.
15-and-under: Golden Square 56 d South Bendigo 46.
Schedule for Saturday’s second semi-finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval in View Street, Bendigo:
15-and-under, 8.40am on court one: Sandhurst v Golden Square.
17-and-under, 10am on court one: Sandhurst v Strathfieldsaye.
B-reserve, 11.20am on court one: Kangaroo Flat v Gisborne.
B-grade, 12.40pm on court one: Gisborne v Strathfieldsaye.
A-reserve, 2pm on court one: Kangaroo Flat v Gisborne.
A-grade, 3.20pm on court one: Kangaroo Flat v Gisborne.
Schedule for Sunday’s first semi-finals at Queen Elizabeth Oval in View Street, Bendigo:
15-and-under, 8.40am on court one: South Bendigo v Eaglehawk.
17-and-under, 10am on court one: Golden Square v South Bendigo.
B-reserve, 11.20am on court one: South Bendigo v Strathfieldsaye.
B-grade, 12.40pm on court one: South Bendigo v Kangaroo Flat.
A-reserve, 2pm on court one: South Bendigo v Sandhurst.
A-grade, 3.20pm on court one: Sandhurst v South Bendigo.
