BFNL 17 and under side extend unbeaten run in second title win

THE BFNL’s 17-and-under representative team will head into this month’s Association Championships Northern Zone qualifying tournament chock full of confidence after scoring a second straight tournament win last Sunday.

Coached by Sharni McPherson and Alison Leech, the BFNL kept its perfect record intact this season by going undefeated in the Central Victorian Netball Association Tournament in Bendigo.

After winning all 10 of their round matches, the BFNL clinched the title with a strong 14-9 grand final victory over a physical Wimmera team.

The tournament was the first to be held under the umbrella of the CVNA following the official merger of the Golden City and Bendigo-Strathdale netball associations.

Coaches McPherson and Leech hailed ‘a dominant defensive’ display by the BFNL.

The team conceded just 70 goals in its 11 matches and only once allowed a team to score double figures.

The BFNL has now won 21 straight games across two tournaments, having gone undefeated in 10 matches (including two finals) at last month’s Echuca District Netball Association Tournament.

Next up for the team is the Northern Zone qualifiers in Bendigo on Sunday 15 June.

The BFNL is chasing its first 17-and-under Association Championships title since 2015.

A star-studded team that season – coached by Hayley Bolton – included current BFNL A-grade stars Ruby Barkmeyer and Milly Wicks, from Kangaroo Flat, and Meg Williams, from Sandhurst.

Full CVNA Tournament results:

Round 1: bye.

Round 2: defeated Loddon Valley 18-3.

Round 3: defeated Sunraysia FNL 13-4.

Round 4: defeated Heathcote District 22-8.

Round 5: defeated Wimmera 13-7.

Round 6 defeated Golden Rivers 18-3.

Round 7: defeated Central Murray 18-7.

Round 8: defeated Horsham District 16-12.

Round 9: defeated Rochester NA 15-7.

Round 10: defeated North Central 10-5.

Round 11: defeated Echuca DNA 22-5.

Final: defeated Wimmera 14-9.

Meanwhile, top-three sides Kangaroo Flat, Sandhurst and Gisborne all recorded strong wins in last Saturday’s round of BFNL A-grade netball.

Top of the ladder Kangaroo Flat defeated South Bendigo 83-19, Sandhurst beat Eaglehawk 50-33, and Gisborne overcame a determined Golden Square 52-33.

Strathfieldsaye had the bye.

With teams all having played each other once this season, unbeaten Kangaroo Flat heads the ladder on six wins, followed by Sandhurst (5-1), Gisborne (4-2), Eaglehawk (2-3-1), South Bendigo (1-4-1), Golden Square (1-5) and Strathfieldsaye (1-5).

In round eight matches to be played on Saturday 14 June, Gisborne hosts Kangaroo Flat, Strathfieldsaye plays South Bendigo, and Eaglehawk and Golden Square clash at Canterbury Park.