Heathcote back in netball finals
Third time’s a charm: Heathcote and Mount Pleasant will face off in an HDNL A Grade elimination final this Saturday. Photo: FILE
IT’S been 12 years since Heathcote has featured in the finals action of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL A Grade netball competition.
The Saints break the drought this Sunday when they face Mount Pleasant in the elimination final at Hibo Hotel Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street.
Co-coaches of the Saints, Brooke Bolton and Kelsey Hayes said they are incredibly proud of the team’s performance to achieve a top-four finish.
“It’s our first A Grade finals match since 2011 and we are looking forward to giving it everything we have,” Bolton said.
This season’s meetings between the Saints and Blues stand at one-all.
In round six the Carine Comer-coached Mount Pleasant staged a superb final quarter fightback on its court at Toolleen to win by a goal.
Heathcote won the Memorial Day match against Mounts in the 16th round at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve by 11 goals.
“Major goals in the finals will be our full-court defensive pressure and a consistent four-quarter effort,” Bolton said of taking on the Blues.
Both elimination finalists marked impressive wins in last Saturday’s 18th and final round of the home-and-away series.
Heathcote beat the Harlowe Huntly Hawks at Strauch Reserve by 21 goals.
“We were happy with the response after being beaten by North Bendigo the previous round,” Bolton said.
“Defensive pressure was great in the first quarter, but some errors and accurate shooting from Huntly meant we were up by just three goals at quarter-time.”
The Saints lifted their play and extended their margin at every break on the way to a 55-34 victory.
“The team adapted well to some positional changes during the game and it was one of our most consistent games this season,” said Bolton who plays a key role in centre.
Goalkeeper Jen Van Neutegem was back on court after a two-week break.
“Jen had a big impact with her defensive pressure and rebounding,” Bolton said.
Annalyse Carroll was in superb touch at goalshooter and hit a game-high 45 goals.
“The passes from Georgia Bolton at goal attack were excellent.”
Sunday’s elimination final between the Saints and Blues starts at 2pm.
While the A Graders were the only senior side to make the post season, the 17 & Under and squads will take on Colbinabbin and Leitchville Gunbower respectively at Barrak Reserve on Saturday.
A Grade
Huntly 34 – Heathcote 55
RANK TEAM P W L D B FW FL F A Pts Calc
1 Elmore 16 16 0 0 2 0 0 1135 612 64 185.46
2 White Hills 16 14 2 0 2 0 0 1037 577 56 179.72
3 Colbinabbin 16 12 4 0 2 0 0 1000 730 48 136.99
4 Heathcote 16 8 8 0 2 0 0 767 716 32 107.12
5 Mount Pleasant 16 7 9 0 2 0 0 700 771 28 90.79
6 North Bendigo 16 7 9 0 2 0 0 662 823 28 80.44
7 Huntly 16 5 11 0 2 0 0 674 836 20 80.62
8 L’ville G’bower 16 2 14 0 2 0 0 542 981 8 55.25
9 LBU 16 1 15 0 2 0 0 537 1008 4 53.27
A Reserve
Huntly 33 – Heathcote 25
RANK TEAM P W L D B FW FL F A Pts Calc
1 Elmore 16 14 2 0 2 0 0 783 474 56 165.19
2 White Hills 16 14 2 0 2 0 0 671 477 56 140.67
3 North Bendigo 16 11 5 0 2 0 0 618 532 44 116.17
4 Colbinabbin 16 9 7 0 2 0 0 734 669 36 109.72
5 Mount Pleasant 16 8 8 0 2 0 0 634 609 32 104.11
6 Huntly 16 7 9 0 2 0 0 607 706 28 85.98
7 LBU 16 5 11 0 2 0 0 619 686 20 90.23
8 L’ville G’bower 16 2 14 0 2 0 0 588 878 8 66.97
9 Heathcote 16 2 14 0 2 0 0 437 660 8 66.21
B Grade
Huntly 69 – Heathcote 29
RANK TEAM P W L D B FW FL F A Pts Calc
1 White Hills 16 14 2 0 2 0 0 829 558 56 148.57
2 Elmore 16 13 3 0 2 0 0 797 529 52 150.66
3 Huntly 16 13 3 0 2 0 0 745 553 52 134.72
4 Mount Pleasant 16 9 7 0 2 0 0 691 581 36 118.93
5 Colbinabbin 16 7 9 0 2 0 0 588 642 28 91.59
6 LBU 16 6 10 0 2 0 0 661 742 24 89.08
7 North Bendigo 16 6 10 0 2 0 0 651 743 24 87.62
8 L’ville G’bower 16 3 13 0 2 0 0 564 769 12 73.34
9 Heathcote 16 1 15 0 2 0 0 366 775 4 47.23
B Reserve
Huntly 73 – Heathcote 16
RANK TEAM P W L D B FW FL F A Pts Calc
1 Huntly 16 16 0 0 2 0 0 934 457 64 204.38
2 White Hills 16 12 4 0 2 0 0 796 549 48 144.99
3 Mount Pleasant 16 12 4 0 2 0 0 765 534 48 143.26
4 North Bendigo 16 11 5 0 2 0 0 775 477 44 162.47
5 Elmore 16 9 7 0 2 0 0 779 568 36 137.15
6 LBU 16 6 10 0 2 0 0 514 641 24 80.19
7 Colbinabbin 16 4 12 0 2 0 0 497 770 16 64.55
8 Heathcote 16 2 14 0 2 0 0 322 879 8 36.63
9 L’ville G’bower 16 0 16 0 2 0 0 335 842 0 39.79
17 & Under
Huntly 37 – Heathcote 33
RANK TEAM P W L D B FW FL F A Pts Calc
1 LBU 16 15 1 0 2 0 0 716 481 60 148.86
2 Colbinabbin 16 10 5 1 2 0 0 707 608 42 116.28
3 Heathcote 16 10 6 0 2 0 0 646 479 40 134.86
4 Mount Pleasant 16 9 6 1 2 0 0 631 554 38 113.90
5 Huntly 16 9 6 1 2 0 0 634 622 38 101.93
6 L’ville G’bower 16 9 6 1 2 0 0 508 500 38 101.60
7 Elmore 16 5 11 0 2 0 0 565 634 20 89.12
8 White Hills 16 2 14 0 2 0 0 385 660 8 58.33
9 North Bendigo 16 1 15 0 2 0 0 427 681 4 62.70
15 & Under
Huntly 56 – Heathcote 19
RANK TEAM P W L D B FW FL F A Pts Calc
1 Mount Pleasant 16 16 0 0 2 0 0 885 286 64 309.44
2 Huntly 16 14 2 0 2 0 0 856 350 56 244.57
3 Elmore 16 11 5 0 2 0 0 736 485 44 151.75
4 White Hills 16 11 5 0 2 0 0 600 512 44 117.19
5 LBU 16 8 8 0 2 0 0 517 559 32 92.49
6 North Bendigo 16 5 11 0 2 0 0 469 730 20 64.25
7 L’ville G’bower 16 5 11 0 2 0 0 359 564 20 63.65
8 Heathcote 16 2 14 0 2 0 0 340 821 8 41.41
9 Colbinabbin 16 0 16 0 2 0 0 382 837 0 45.64
13 & Under
Huntly 22 – Heathcote 26
RANK TEAM P W L D B FW FL F A Pts Calc
1 LBU 16 14 2 0 2 0 0 586 155 56 378.06
2 L’ville G’bower 16 14 2 0 2 0 0 488 203 56 240.39
3 Heathcote 16 13 3 0 2 0 0 427 295 52 144.75
4 Huntly 16 9 6 1 2 0 0 368 216 38 170.37
5 Colbinabbin 16 9 7 0 2 0 0 356 296 36 120.27
6 Elmore 16 6 9 1 2 0 0 295 290 26 101.72
7 White Hills 16 4 12 0 2 0 0 250 422 16 59.24
8 Mount Pleasant 16 2 14 0 2 0 0 121 515 8 23.50
9 North Bendigo 16 0 16 0 2 0 0 81 580 0 13.97
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