A HOT-to-go Heathcote team will take to the netball court for the A-grade clash with Elmore in Saturday’s 14th round of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season.<\/p>\n
The Saints are home at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve to face a strong Elmore line-up.<\/p>\n
Heathcote’s six-goal victory at North Bendigo last round meant the Saints have secured a finals berth for the second year in a row.<\/p>\n
Saints’ co-coach and mid-court star Brooke Bolton said the focus was now on improving each round in the lead-up to the finals series.<\/p>\n
“Elmore is a great test for us,” Bolton said.<\/p>\n
“We are up against a strong opponent and need a consistent four quarters to be competitive,” she said of being up against the third-placed Bloods.<\/p>\n
Heathcote was not at full-strength when it played on Elmore’s court in round five.<\/p>\n
“We are excited to play them at full-strength.”<\/p>\n
The Saints won a hard-fought contest at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street.<\/p>\n
A one-goal deficit for Heathcote at half-time turned dramatically in the third quarter.<\/p>\n
The Saints won the term, 14-7, on the way to clinching a 37-31 victory.<\/p>\n
“We were without two of our regular players in Hayley Hogan and Chloe Hill,” said Bolton.<\/p>\n
“Telani Bibby again stepped up to play wing defence and did a great job.<\/p>\n
“It was not our strongest performance in attack, but our defenders really stepped up and kept us in the game.”<\/p>\n
Bolton and co-coach Kelsey Hayes were rapt with the team’s ability to stay composed and focus on the game plan.<\/p>\n
Goalkeeper Jen Van Neutegem racked up four intercepts, six deflections and six rebounds to be best in the Saints seventh win of the season.<\/p>\n
A highlight of this Saturday’s match will be Van Neutegem against Elmore co-coach and goalshooter Gabe Richards.<\/p>\n
Another in-form player for the Saints is Jess Peck at goal defence.<\/p>\n
Bolton said a focus in the lead-up to the showdown with the Bloods would be on attacking plays.<\/p>\n
“Shooting percentages will need to improve to stay with or lead Elmore,” she said of facing an opponent which has a nine-two record.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A HOT-to-go Heathcote team will take to the netball court for the A-grade clash with Elmore in Saturday’s 14th round of the Bendigo Bank Heathcote DFNL season. The Saints are home at Pigeon Park in Barrack Reserve to face a strong Elmore line-up. Heathcote’s six-goal victory at North Bendigo last round meant the Saints have […]<\/p>\n