Match Previews | A FIERCE on-court rivalry between Sandhurst and Gisborne plays out in Saturday’s start to the A-grade finals series in the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League.

The Dragons and Bulldogs will meet in the qualifying final at Harry Trott Oval in Neale Street, Kennington.

First pass in the big clash between two clubs which have featured in many great finals across 20 years will be at 3.20pm.

It’s one-all in this season’s meetings between Sandhurst and Gisborne who ended the home-and-away series on win-loss tallies of 13-3.

The Tamara Gilchrist-coached Sandhurst scored a 44-40 victory in the eighth round on Gisborne’s court at Melbourne North Truck Centre Oval in Gardiner Reserve.

Scores were identical, but flipped as the Tarryn Rymer-coached Gisborne took the points from Queen Elizabeth Oval in the 17th round.

The Sandhurst team is Shae Clifford, Sophie James (Shoebridge), Claire McGee, Heath Oliver, Kelsey Ralph, Rebecca Smith, Ruby Turner, Harriet Whiteacre, Darcy Williams, and Meg Williams.

Key players for Gisborne include co-captains Kirby Elliott and Charlee Kemp, Amity Drayton and Torie Skrijel.

The team in red, white and blue also has Charlee Duff-Tytler, Emerson Lakey, Emily Miles and Tilly Shepherd to take to the court.

An unbeaten Kangaroo Flat awaits to face Gisborne or Sandhurst in the second semi-final on September 5. 

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