SANDHURST has again shown it will take plenty of stopping at the business end of the BFNL A-grade netball season.
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A slick and classy Dragons condemned Golden Square to only their third loss of the season at the QEO on Saturday.
The Dragons, led by reigning league best and fairest Heather Oliver, fellow defender Carly Van Den Heuvel and midcourters Brooke Bolton and Meg Williams, defeated the reigning premiers 55-37.
Kelsey Sartori and Annie Cobbledick proved a potent combination in goals, as the Dragons made amends for an earlier season loss to the Bulldogs.
The win - Sandhurst's 12th from 14 games this season - delivered the Dragons' outright second position on the ladder, half a win behind top side Kangaroo Flat.
It is likely to have given the Dragons a handy mental edge, should the teams meet again in the up-coming finals series.
The Bulldogs clash was the first of three straight crucial encounters for the Dragons.
They play finals aspirants Strathfieldsaye at the QEO next week, ahead of a top of the table clash against Kangaroo Flat at Bendigo Mazda Oval in a fortnight's time.
Gisborne was the weekend's big mover, jumping above Maryborough into fourth place after a powerful 75-13 win against Castlemaine.
The Bulldogs remain locked in a desperate battle with three other teams for two finals spots.
They have eight wins, a similar number to fifth-placed Maryborough and sixth-placed Storm, and one more than Kyneton in seventh position.
Gisborne and Kyneton clash this weekend, after the Tigers defeated Eaglehawk in a close encounter.
Hayley Page scored 29 goals and Michelle Fletcher 21 as the Tigers triumphed 50-46.
At the other end of the court, Dayna McGough was in outstanding touch, scoring 39 goals, including 16 from 19 attempts in the third quarter, as the young Hawks established a two point lead.
They were unable to hold on with the Tigers running out four goal winners.
At Bendigo Mazda Oval, Kangaroo Flat outlasted a brave Maryborough to win by four goals.
The Roos maintained outright top spot, winning a spirited contest 46-42.
A huge clash against Golden Square looms next week for the Roos at MyJet Oval.
The pair last clashed in round one when Kangaroo Flat emerged with the points by four goals.
A determined South Bendigo pushed Strathfieldsaye for four quarters, but was unable to stop the Storm from winning 53-41.
