Colbinabbin’s Elle Palmer looks to shut down Leitchville-Gunbower’s Carmen Dye. Photos: Jordan Townrow.
Lockington-Bamawm United claiming its first win of the year highlighted an otherwise standard round of Heathcote District Netball League action.
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In a battle of the bottom dwellers, LBU cruised to a comfortable victory over Heathcote in round 13.
Colbinabbin’s Ella Kerlin secures it.
In a close first quarter, the Cats got the jump on Heathcote at Barrack Reserve, taking an early seven-goal lead at quarter-time.
While the Saints showed improved attack in the second term, LBU continued its charge, finding the net 17 times to hold a 13-goal advantage at the major break.
Colbinabbin’s Chelsea Whittle makes use of her plant foot.
Heathcote showed promise, with consistent threatening efforts in attack, but the Cats kept on coming, stretching the deficit to 17 goals with the final quarter looming.
A subdued nine-goal performance by the Saints couldn’t put a dent in LBU’s plans for victory, with the Cats skating over the line for a resounding 20-goal win.
The 60-40 triumph was LBU’s first for the season, with Jessie Hardress named best-on-court and Stacy Bacon also honoured.
Following the win, the Cats will have a bye this week to rest and train before coming back to battle fierce rival L-G at home.
Leitchville-Gunbower’s Tia McGregor unloads.
Colbinabbin vs Leitchville-Gunbower
Any hope of Leitchville-Gunbower slaying a giant was quickly snuffed out as Colbinabbin laid waste to the Bombers.
Travelling to Colbinabbin Recreation Reserve, the Bombers had little chance against the humming attacking engine of the table-topping Grasshoppers.
Colbinabbin’s Kasey Conder plays quickly from the centre.
In what wasn’t a close contest across the match, L-G was defeated by a staggering 61 goals as Colbo tore apart the Bombers in a 95-34 finish.
The win only further cements the Grasshoppers as the team to beat in 2025 with an undefeated record and a goal average percentage that is almost double that of second-placed Mount Pleasant.
Colbinabbin’s Tanzin Myers fights for possession.
L-G will pick itself up and dust itself off in preparation to host current wooden-spooner Heathcote in what should be a happier round 14 result.
With their finals hopes all but over, the run home will be a relatively easy one for the Bombers, who still have the aforementioned Saints to play before taking on rival LBU, a bye, Elmore and North Bendigo to finish their season.
Meanwhile, Colbinabbin will continue its reign of terror when it comes up against the fifth-placed Bloods at Elmore Recreation Reserve.
Chelsea Imanisani fires one-handed for Colbinabbin.
Mount Pleasant vs Elmore
Mount Pleasant had no trouble accounting for a potential finals rival in Elmore.
Although both sides will likely see post-season netball this campaign, the mighty Mounts dismissed any illusions that the two sides were comparable on the day, dispatching the Bloods 62-28.
Mount Pleasant (9-3) trails only the undefeated Colbinabbin on the league table, while Elmore (6-1-5) sits in fifth, a likely finalist with a two-game break ahead of sixth.
Mount Pleasant visits North Bendigo next weekend, while Elmore will host the league-leading Grasshoppers.
Huntly vs North Bendigo
In the closest game of the round, Huntly did enough to effectively end North Bendigo’s finals charge, downing the Bulldogs 52-47.
The Hawks held a slight edge throughout, not allowing the Bulldogs to make up ground and eventually prevailing by five goals.
Two games short of fifth, making finals will be a hard ask for North Bendigo with five rounds to play, including hosting Mount Pleasant next week.
Huntly (8-4) sits in fourth and can draw level with White Hills above it if its visit to the Demons is successful next week.
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