-By Nathan Dole
JUST three goals separated Newbridge and Bridgewater at the end of their A-grade netball match in Saturday’s seventh round in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
The Maroons had home-court advantage at Deepcore Drilling Oval in Newbridge’s Riverside Oval.
It was a special day for Leah Oxford, nee Dixon, who contested her 300th match for Newbridge.
After taking it right up to Mitiamo the previous round, Newbridge took the points this time in a 47-44 result against Bridgewater.
The Selina Holland and Kristy Gandy-coached Newbridge is fourth in the premiership race and in a fight with Bridgewater and Marong to claim a top-three berth.
A Bridgewater line-up jointly coached by Caz Wood and Olivia Hoiles is third in the league standings.
Calivil United netted its first A-grade win of the season as the Demons hosted Inglewood at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
A closely-fought contest between the Demons and Blues went the way of the Cindy Portwine-coached Calivil United by nine goals.
The Demons won 48-37 and in the process moved to seventh on the ladder.
The Caitlyn Cartwright-coached achieved a season-high tally of 37 goals.
Previous best for the Blues was 30 against Mitiamo in round five.
Marong was too strong for Maiden Gully YCW Eagles at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
Defences were in control for a lot of the match.
The Bridget Willox-coached Marong Panthers clawed their way to a 46-38 victory.
The Leisa Barry-coached Eagles dropped to eighth on the ladder.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine was outpointed by Mitiamo at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
It was always going to be a big task for the Danielle O’Toole and Lara Clements-coached Bears against the reigning premier.
A Mitiamo Superoos team coached by Abbey Battersby and Jess Kaur surpassed the 80-goal mark in an 85-42 result.
Pyramid Hill had the bye.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Mitiamo 181 per cent, 24 points; Pyramid Hill 129, 20; Bridgewater 140, 16; Newbridge 134, 16; Marong 109, 16; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 90, 12; Calivil United 68.4, 4; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 68.1, 4, Inglewood 41, 0.
In next Saturday’s eighth round, Newbridge will again be on its court at Deepcore Drilling Oval in Riverside Oval to play Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
Pyramid Hill and Calivil United clash at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
It’s first against fifth as Mitiamo faces Marong at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval.
Inglewood and Maiden Gully YCW Eagles meet on the Blues’ court at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
Bridgewater has the bye.
Round seven scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Newbridge 32 lt Bridgewater 49, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 18 lt Mitiamo 40, Marong 50 d Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 37, Calivil United 37 d Inglewood 25, Pyramid Hill bye.
B-grade:
Newbridge 27 lt Bridgewater 28, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 33 d Mitiamo 25, Marong 40 d Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 30, Calivil United 38 lt Inglewood 43, Pyramid Hill bye.
B-reserve:
Newbridge 36 lt Bridgewater 49, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 27 d Mitiamo 19, Marong 46 lt Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 53, Calivil United 36 lt Inglewood 42, Pyramid Hill bye.
17-and-under:
Newbridge 24 lt Bridgewater 61, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 45 d Mitiamo 38, Marong 35 lt Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 36, Calivil United 72 d Inglewood 12, Pyramid Hill bye.
15-and-under:
Newbridge 22 lt Bridgewater 69, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 40 d Mitiamo 18, Marong 46 d Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 32, Calivil United 74 d Inglewood 14, Pyramid Hill bye.
13-and-under:
Newbridge 36 d Bridgewater 19, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 23 d Mitiamo 15, Marong 16 lt Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 24, Calivil United 23 lt Inglewood 26, Pyramid Hill bye.
League ladders after seven rounds:
A-reserve:
Bridgewater 125 per cent, 24 points; Marong 152, 20; Pyramid Hill 129, 18; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 117, 16; Mitiamo 120, 14; Newbridge 108, 10; Calivil United 93, 6; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 61, 4; Inglewood 42, 0.
B-grade:
Bridgewater 171 per cent, 28 points; Newbridge 138, 20; Marong 132, 20; Pyramid Hill 117, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 100, 12; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 87, 8; Mitiamo 76, 4; Calivil United 66, 4; Inglewood 64, 4.
B-reserve:
Bridgewater 142 per cent, 28 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 155, 20; Pyramid Hill 148, 20; Newbridge 101, 12; Inglewood 99, 12; Marong 113, 8; Calivil United 89, 8; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 49, 4; Mitiamo 49, 0.
17-and-under:
Bridgewater 200 per cent, 24 points; Calivil United 150, 20; Marong 145, 16; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 144, 16; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 80, 12; Pyramid Hill 75, 12; Mitiamo 83, 8; Inglewood 52, 4; Newbridge 42, 0.
15-and-under:
Calivil United 347 per cent, 24 points; Marong 151, 20; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 131, 20; Bridgewater 119, 16; Inglewood 64, 12; Pyramid Hill 101, 8; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 92, 8; Mitiamo 45, 4; Newbridge 42, 0.
13-and-under:
Newbridge 420 per cent, 24 points; Marong 165, 20; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 144, 20; Pyramid Hill 82, 16; Calivil United 107, 8; Inglewood 73, 8; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 66, 8; Bridgewater 69, 4.