BY NATHAN DOLE
Newbridge nets crucial win against Bears
AN EIGHT-GOAL victory in the 12th round ensured Newbridge kept the heat on in the fight for a top-three finish in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition.
Newbridge was on its court at Walker’s Doughnuts Riverside Oval to take on Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
A 48-40 win not only kept the Selina Holland and Kristy Gandy-coached Newbridge in fourth place, but also a psychological edge should it meet BLS in an elimination final.
Despite the defeat the Danielle O’Toole-coached Bears hold fifth place.
A much-improved BLS is six points clear of the sixth-placed Marong.
It was a closely-fought contest at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park as the Bulldogs took on Marong.
The Robyn Cunnington-coached Marong was determined to achieve an upset result to move closer to the fifth-placed Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
A Pyramid Hill team coached by Chelsea Emmerson fought on for a 61-55 victory.
A rematch of last September’s grand finalists, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles and Mitiamo was played at Marist College Oval in Maiden Gully.
The Adam Boldiston-coached Eagles worked hard, but Mitiamo was too strong across four quarters.
At the final siren the Jen Wilson-coached Superoos led 70-49.
Inglewood was on its court at Centre State Scaffolding Oval to face Bridgewater.
The Abbey Hayes-coached Inglewood worked hard to score 36 goals.
Third in the premiership race, the Caz Wood and Olivia Collicoat-coached Bridgewater brought up win number eight in a 64-36 result against the Blues.
Calivil United had the bye.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Mitiamo 176 per cent, 36 points; Pyramid Hill 153, 36; Bridgewater 134, 32; Newbridge 107, 30; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 111, 24; Marong 91, 18; Maiden Gully YCW 91, 12; Calivil United 53, 4; Inglewood 41, 0.
Highlight of next Saturday’s 13th round will be the showdown between the third and second-placed Bridgewater and Pyramid Hill on Bridgewater’s court.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine returns to Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve to play Marong.
Mitiamo will play Calivil United at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval.
Newbridge plays Inglewood on the Maroons’ court at Walker’s Doughnuts Riverside Oval.
Maiden Gully YCW has the bye.
Round 12 scoreboard:
B-grade:
Newbridge 58 d Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 20, Inglewood 18 lt Bridgewater 74, Maiden Gully YCW 42 d Mitiamo 35, Pyramid Hill 52 lt Marong 53, Calivil United bye.
C-grade:
Newbridge 47 d Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 31, Inglewood 42 d Bridgewater 40, Maiden Gully YCW 41 lt Mitiamo 48, Pyramid Hill 46 lt Marong 48, Calivil United bye,
C-reserve:
Newbridge 40 d Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 31, Inglewood 36 d Bridgewater 33, Maiden Gully YCW 46 d Mitiamo 22, Pyramid Hill 41 lt Marong 42, Calivil United bye.
17-and-under:
Newbridge 23 lt Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 61, Inglewood 18 lt Bridgewater 59, Maiden Gully YCW d Mitiamo (forfeit), Pyramid Hill 33 lt Marong 43, Calivil United bye.
15-and-under:
Newbridge forfeit to Bears-Lagoon Serpentine, Inglewood 30 lt Bridgewater 47, Maiden Gully YCW 44 d Mitiamo 31, Pyramid Hill 19 lt Marong 27, Calivil United bye.
13-and-under:
Newbridge forfeit to Bears-Lagoon Serpentine, Inglewood 33 d Bridgewater 23, Maiden Gully YCW 21 d Mitiamo 12, Pyramid Hill 7 lt Marong 48, Calivil United bye.
League ladders:
B-grade:
Newbridge 160 per cent, 40 points; Pyramid Hill 141, 36; Marong 136, 36; Bridgewater 115, 26; Maiden Gully YCW 108, 20; Mitiamo 88, 14; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 74, 12; Calivil United 63, 8; Inglewood 45, 0.
C-grade:
Pyramid Hill 137 per cent, 38 points; Newbridge 127, 32; Bridgewater 124, 28; Marong 113, 28; Maiden Gully YCW 103, 26; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 104, 20; Mitiamo 91, 12; Calivil United 62, 4; Inglewood 52, 4.
C-reserve:
Marong 175 per cent, 40 points; Maiden Gully YCW 144, 40; Newbridge 134, 32; Pyramid Hill 122, 28; Bridgewater 114, 20; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 84, 16; Inglewood 74, 8; Mitiamo 55, 8; Calivil United 46, 0.
17-and-under:
Bridgewater 198 per cent, 40 points; Marong 179, 40; Maiden Gully YCW 116, 28; Calivil United 123, 24; Pyramid Hill 108, 24; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 93, 20; Inglewood 51, 8; Newbridge 33, 4.
15-and-under:
Calivil United 237 per cent, 40 points; Bridgewater 138, 36; Marong 135, 36; Maiden Gully YCW 122, 24; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 79, 20; Mitiamo 65, 12; Pyramid Hill 50, 12; Inglewood 57, 8.
13-and-under:
Marong 440 per cent, 40 points; Calivil United 350, 40; Inglewood 202, 32; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 64, 24; Bridgewater 58, 16; Pyramid Hill 40, 16; Maiden Gully YCW 57, 12; Mitiamo 37, 8.