Sandhurst hot favourites to net another cup

THE Sandhurst Dragons will start hot favourite to clinch a fifth consecutive A Grade netball premiership in this Saturday’s grand finale to the Bendigo Bank Bendigo FNL season.

The unbeaten Sandhurst takes on Gisborne in the big clash at Queen Elizabeth Oval from 3pm.

These teams met in the second semi where the Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst was able to draw away for a 44-38 victory.

A Gisborne line-up coached by Tarryn Rymer struck back to win the preliminary final against Castlemaine by 13 goals.

In the home-and-away series the Dragons fired up for a six-goal win at Gisborne in the seventh round and the maroon and blue won again, this time by 16 goals in the 16th round.

A star-studded Sandhurst team includes Shae Clifford, Kelsey Meade, Heather Oliver, Charlotte and Imogen Sexton, and Meg Williams.

There are many key factors behind the Dragons’ unbeaten streak.

Sandhurst’s ability to force and capitalise on turnovers, strong defensive efforts in all thirds of the court, and able to maintain a high level of pressure in every quarter is tough for opponents to match.

It’s a huge task for a Gisborne line-up that is brilliantly led by Kirby Elliott and Claudia Mawson, and also includes Zoe Davies who will soon be bound for England to play for Leeds Rhinos.

Other players to watch in the red, white and blue include Kiralee Collings, Charlee Kemp and Tiana Newman.

The Gisborne Bulldogs’ only BNL A Grade premiership victory was in 2013.

It’s been a superb effort by Sandhurst as all five netball teams are in grand finals this Saturday.

The A Reserve team takes on Gisborne at 1.30pm, and B Grade also faces Gisborne at noon.

Sandhurst will chase the B Reserve title against Kangaroo Flat from 10.30am while first-up on the netball court at 9am will be Sandhurst against Gisborne in the 19 and Unders.