COLBINABBIN has reaffirmed its spot at the top of the HDFNL netball ladder with a powerful win over premiership rival Mount Pleasant.
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The Grasshoppers’ 65-26 victory against an injury-stricken Blues was their 12th win in a so far unblemished season and keeps them one win ahead of fierce rival White Hills in the battle for the minor premiership.
Colbinabbin and White Hills are due to meet in two weeks’ time.
There was much to like about the win for dual Grasshoppers premiership coach Liz Cobbledick, including a strong hit-out for one of the club’s multiple premiership stars.
“Holly Guerra came back and that was pretty much her first game she’s played more than a quarter (this season),” she said.
“She played three quarters and looked to be in really good form.
“She’s had a bad run with injuries and that was only the fifth time she’s taken the court this season.
“We came out really strong, which is what we said we wanted to do before the match.”
“I think we need to start putting a few things into place coming into finals, polishing up and putting a little finesse into our game.”
Equally pleasing was the Grasshoppers were able to win the third term 20-3 with both the coach and last season’s league medal winner Brydie Lawford spending the quarter on the bench.
“It was nice to watch the likes of Mardi Ryan step up in the goal attack position,” she said.
The Grasshoppers got their usual excellent service from centre Olivia McEvoy, Goal shooter Lou Dupuy and midcourter Georgia Rodger.
Cobbledick acknowledged the Blues had been cruelled by a spate of injuries in recent weeks, but had strongly pushed her team in patches and would be a different proposition during finals.
Meanwhile, Huntly joined Mount Pleasant on 36 points following a win against Heathcote, in a game dedicated to the memory of Georgia Edsall-French, who tragically died in a car crash in 2015.
The Hawks, however, remain in fourth spot ahead of next week’s clash against Colbinabbin.
The Saints ended their memorial day with wins in A-reserve (46-28) and B-grade (39-21) and a pair of narrow loss in the B-reserve and 15-and-under matches.
White Hills defeated Elmore 56-39, and North Bendigo got its third win of the season 55-40 over Lockington-Bamawm United.
In next week’s games, Huntly hosts Colbinabbin, Mount Pleasant will look to rebound against Leitchville-Gunbower, Lockington-Bamawm United is at home against Elmore and White Hills clashes with Heathcote.
An Elmore win, coupled with a loss to Leitchville-Gunbower, would all but seal the Bloods’ a first finals appearance since 2010.