A SCORESHEET controversy has marred Golden Square's first win of the BFNL A-grade netball season against Strathfieldsaye on Saturday.
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The clash between last season's grand finalists at MyJet Oval ended with the scoreboard showing both teams on 39 goals.
But it was a different scenario on the official scoresheet, with the Bulldogs ahead by two points on the goal count, despite the progressive score seeming to indicate both team were locked on 39.
It marred what was a quality game of netball between the fierce rivals, with Golden Square jumping out to a five goal lead at half-time before being outscored in the final two quarters.
Despite a brave second half performance, the Storm fell an agonising two goals short.
A philosophical Storm coach Melissa Ryan conceded the game was lost, despite her own club stats indicating a tie.
"We thought it was a draw and our timekeeper's scorecard showed it was 39-all," she said.
"(But) as far as we are concerned the (final) score stands and we're accepting of that."
It's not the first time a result has been questioned.
In last season's elimination final, the scoreboard showed a 37-37 draw between Gisborne and Kangaroo Flat.
But after a check of the scoresheet, the Bulldogs were awarded the game 38-37.
Complicating matters was that the league website ladder on Sunday had credited both teams with a draw, despite the result being listed as 39-37.
Bendigo Football Netball League manager Carol Cathcart said the result was always determined by the official scoresheet and not the scoreboard.
"You have one person from each club to double check other - that's the official scoresheet," she said.
"It's the same when you play football, the goal umpires are the ones who correlate their card and that's the official score, regardless of what the scoreboard says."
It was a memorable win on a notable occasion for dual Bulldogs A-grade premiership player Belinda Pinner, who was playing her 250th game for Golden Square.
Young star Abbey Ryan and Lucy Morcom in goals for the Bulldogs enjoyed a great tussle with the Storm's Claudia Powell and Elyse Morgan.
A loss would have seen the Bulldogs slip to 0-3, with both teams now boasting similar 1-2 records.
Sandhurst occupies top spot on the league ladder after a 55-24 win against South Bendigo at Queen Elizabeth Oval.
The Dragons next week take on Gisborne, which became Kangaroo Flat's third victim for the season.
The Roos were fast out of the blocks in their 51-32 win at Bendigo Mazda Oval, leading by six goals at quarter time and 12 goals at half time.
The Bulldogs had the better of the contest on the scoreboard in the third quarter, but could only bridge the margin to 11 goals by quarter's end.
Kangaroo Flat capped a dominating performance by outscoring their 2015 elimination final rival 14-6 in the final term.
Young gun Ruby Barkmeyer scored 36 of the Roos' goals, including nine from 12 attempts in the first quarter.
Kyneton joined Sandhurst and Kangaroo Flat as the remaining undefeated teams with a 32 goal win against Castlemaine.
Goal attack Michelle Fletcher and goal shooter Hayley Page combined brilliantly for the tenacious Tigers, who asserted their dominance from the outset in a 16-3 opening quarter blitz.
Defender Tayla Callaway and Stephanie Penning also shone for the winners.`
Maryborough returned to the winner's list with a tense three goal win against Eaglehawk at Barkers Oval.
The Magpies were forced to come from behind in a see-sawing contest.
They trailed by three goals at quarter time and and by one goal at half time before drawing level at three quarter time.
Goal shooter Jordan Macilwain was cool under pressure in the final term, slotting eight of her team's 10 goals, giving her 27 for the game.
Dayna McGough was a solid contributor for the Hawks