NORTH Bendigo has booked a spot in the HDFNL A-grade netball preliminary final after a gutsy 52-42 semi-final win over Leitchville-Gunbower on Sunday.
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An impressive 10-goal win earned them another crack at old rivals Colbinabbin next weekend, with the winner to advance to a grand final showdown against White Hills.
The Demons won their way into the grand final with a polished 54-47 second semi-final win over Colbinabbin on Saturday.
Coach Nadine Anderson's team will be aiming to secure the club's first premiership since 2010.
The Demons led at every break, including 42-31 at three quarter time.
Colbinabbin produced their best netball for the contest in the final term and piled on 16 goals, but only reduced the margin to seven goals.
It was the Demons' third win this season over the reigning premiers.
A rematch of this season's qualifying against the Grasshoppers awaits North Bendigo after its win against a gallant Leitchville-Gunbower.
The Bulldogs powered to victory on the back of some fine efforts from goal shooting ace Rebecca Smith and defenders Mikayla Haddow and Bridget McDougall.
Bulldogs coach Tamara Gilchrist praised her players persistence against a formidable opponent.
"We knew it was going to be a really tough game going into today - we beat them by a goal first round and they beat is by three the second time, so we knew they'd be a tough opponent," she said.
"I couldn't be happier getting the win.
"It was a tough, but clean game, and really contested, which is what you want.
“It was such a team effort – everyone put in and did what they had to do.”
Gunbower-Leitchville coach Jodie Lake said her team had simply been beaten by a better team on the day.
"We were prepared for a tough game, but it wasn't exactly our day today," she said.
"They played really well and we didn't play as well as we had the last few weeks, which was a bit disappointing.”
"We missed a lot of goals today. Our shooters have been really on-song recently so that wasn't expected."
The Bombers led by one goal at quarter time, but surrendered the lead for good early in the second term.
The Bombers were contesting back-to-back finals series for the first time in many seasons.