BY NATHAN DOLE
MAIDEN Gully YCW has advanced to another A-grade netball grand final in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL.
The Eagles played out a thrilling second semi-final on Saturday against Mitiamo at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
In the home and away series the Adam Boldiston-coached Eagles had beaten the Superoos, 70-51 and 64-55.
With the winner of Saturday’s match first to the grand final on September 9 at Inglewood’s Dissy Machinery Oval it was the Jen Wilson-coached Mitiamo which applied plenty of pressure.
Both of the teams had met in last season’s grand final.
Just as it did last year, Maiden Gully YCW was able to win a closely-fought second semi against the Superoos, 62-59.
Mitiamo will now take on Marong in next Saturday’s preliminary final at Calivil.
The Marong Panthers won Sunday’s first semi-final against Pyramid Hill by 15 goals.
The Sue Borserio-coached Marong had drawn with the Gemma Scott-coached Pyramid Hill, 48-all at East West Oval in Marong’s Malone Park in the fourth round.
In round 13 the Panthers clawed their way to a 41-37 win at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
A qualifying final showdown between Mitiamo and Marong at Bridgewater ended in a 57-45 win for the Superoos.
Across the weekend’s semi-finals, Maiden Gully YCW also marked victories in the C-grade, 2nd semi; and 13-and-under, 1st sem.
A big weekend for Marong included wins in B-grade, 2nd semi; C-reserve, 2nd semi; 17-and-under, 2nd semi.
There were also victories for Calivil United in the 15-and-under and 13-and-under second semi-finals; Pyramid Hill in B-grade and C-grade, first semi-finals.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine stayed in the premiership race in C-reserve, and 17-and-under, as did Inglewood’s 15-and-under netballers.
Second semi-finals scoreboard at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve:
A-grade: Maiden Gully YCW 62 d Mitiamo 59.
B-grade: Marong 43 d Maiden Gully YCW 42.
C-grade: Maiden Gully YCW 55 d Marong 37.
C-reserve: Marong 50 d Maiden Gully YCW 22.
17-and-under: Marong 40 lt Bridgewater 52.
15-and-under: Calivil United 43 d Bridgewater 38.
13-and-under: Calivil United 49 d Bridgewater 23.
First semi-finals scoreboard at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park:
A-grade: Marong 57 d Pyramid Hill 42.
B-grade: Pyramid Hill 34 lt Bridgewater 46.
C-grade: Pyramid Hill 43 d Newbridge 40.
C-reserve: Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 47 lt Newbridge 53.
17-and-under: Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 55 d Maiden Gully YCW 32.
15-and-under: Inglewood 21 lt Maiden Gully YCW 40.
13-and-under: Maiden Gully YCW 23 d Inglewood 13.
Schedule for Saturday’s preliminary finals on Saturday at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
A-grade at 3pm: Mitiamo v Marong.
B-grade at 1.30pm: Maiden Gully YCW v Bridgewater.
C-grade at 3pm: Marong v Pyramid Hill.
C-reserve at 1.30pm: Maiden Gully YCW v Newbridge.
17-and-under at 12pm: Marong v Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
15-and-under at 10.30am: Bridgewater v Maiden Gully YCW.
13-and-under at 12pm: Bridgewater v Maiden Gully YCW.