Is Bendigo the real deal in BBD weekend pennant?

Bendigo sits in third position on the ladder to be the best of the teams below the two competition powerhouses in Bendigo East and Eaglehawk.

The Beasties and Hawks look on a collision course to meet in the grand final in March, with the challenge on the run to the finals for their rivals to step up their game and show that the premiership race isn’t simply a two-horse race.

Bendigo has won six of the nine games it has played, but also highlights the gap between Bendigo East and Eaglehawk and the rest.

After 10 rounds the ladder shows Bendigo is the third best side in the competition, yet in its two matches against the Hawks and Beasties has lost by a combined 59 shots – 42 against Eaglehawk in round four and 17 against Bendigo East in round five.

Bendigo hosts Eaglehawk on Saturday and the mighty task that is at hand is evident with the Hawks having three rinks ranked top five in the BBD – Darren Burgess (No.2), Dean Carter (No.4) and Brayden Byrne (No.5).

Carter is on a six-game winning streak – second only to Bendigo East’s Lee Schraner (nine in a row) – and Burgess has won four straight, but Bendigo also has a pair of its rinks in good form.

The rinks of Andrew Brown and Damian Broderick both head into Saturday’s match of the round on four-game winning streaks.

But it will take a consistent four-rink effort across the board from Bendigo if it’s to serve it right up to the Hawks and prove it has what it takes to be considered the real deal come the business end of the season.

Last time – Eaglehawk 112 d Bendigo 70.

Since 2005-06 – Bendigo 17; Eaglehawk 14.

Tip – Eaglehawk by 12.

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Last time – Castlemaine 97 d Golden Square 91.

Since 2005-06 – Golden Square 14; Castlemaine 7.

Tip – Golden Square by 4.

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Last time – Bendigo East 104 d Kangaroo Flat 100.

Since 2005-06 – Bendigo East 18; Kangaroo Flat 10.

Tip – Bendigo East by 14.

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Last time – South Bendigo 104 d Inglewood 84.

Since 2005-06 – South Bendigo 9; Inglewood 2; Tied 1.

Tip – South Bendigo by 11.

Games start at 1.30pm.

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1. Bendigo East

Points: 141 Shots: +191

2. Eaglehawk

Points: 135 Shots: +132

3. Bendigo

Points: 112 Shots: +31

4. South Bendigo

Points: 97 Shots: +53

5. Kangaroo Flat

Points: 87 Shots: -15

6. Golden Square

Points: 59 Shots: -108

7. Castlemaine

Points: 50 Shots: -162

8. Inglewood

Points: 39 Shots: -122

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1. Lee Schraner (East)

Points: 19 Shots: +99

2. Darren Burgess (Eh)

Points: 15 Shots: +65

3. Aaron Tomkins (East)

Points: 15 Shots: +59

4. Dean Carter (Eh)

Points: 15 Shots: +56

5. Brayden Byrne (Eh)

Points: 15 Shots: +42

6. Marc Smith (East)

Points: 13 Shots: +41

7. Brad Holland (SB)

Points: 13 Shots: +37

8. Andrew Brown (Bgo)

Points: 13 Shots: +25

9. Damian

Broderick (Bgo)

Points: 13 Shots: +15

10. John Berry (KF)

Points: 13 Shots: +7

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