MITIAMO’S run at back-to-back A-grade netball premierships in Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL action will roll on after a hard-fought preliminary final against Bridgewater.
The Superoos and Mean Machine played a superb match on Saturday at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
After an unbeaten run to the finals, Mitiamo was stunned by Pyramid Hill in the second semi-final the previous Saturday.
The Superoos went into the match as favourite, but it was Pyramid Hill which won 66-49 and booked its place in the September 6 grand final at Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval in Newbridge.
On preliminary final day the Mitiamo team withstood a spirited challenge from Bridgewater.
A Bridgewater team coached by Caz Wood and Olivia Hoiles had progressed from a 58-46 win against Marong in the elimination final to score a five-goal win against Newbridge in the first semi.
Bridgewater kept the heat on the Superoos in every quarter of the preliminary final.
At the final siren it was the Abbey Battersby and Jess Kaur-coached Mitiamo which led 50-48.
It was an exciting finish to the A-reserve preliminary final between Bridgewater and Marong.
The Mean Machine advanced to the grand final as it netted a 53-51 win against the Panthers.
Bridgewater was on the rebound from an eight-goal loss to Maiden Gully YCW Eagles in the second semi-final.
Just three goals separated Pyramid Hill and Marong in the B-grade preliminary final.
A 46-43 victory meant Pyramid Hill moved through to a grand final showdown with Bridgewater.
The Mean Machine won the second semi-final against Marong by five goals.
A 33-28 result clinched a grand final berth for Pyramid Hill in B-reserve.
The Bulldogs took on Bridgewater in the preliminary final.
A week earlier and Pyramid Hill won the first semi against Newbridge by 21 goals as Bridgewater went down 26-36 in a second semi-final clash with Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
Calivil United struck back from its 10-goal loss to Bridgewater in the 17-and-under second semi to win Saturday’s match against Maiden Gully YCW Eagles by nine goals.
A 52-43 win for the Demons meant it set up another showdown with Bridgewater in the match which matters most.
Marong dominated the 15-and-under preliminary final against Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
The Panthers won 50-13 and will now face Calivil United in the grand final.
The grand finalists meant in the second semi which went the way of the Demons by 20 goals.
Calivil United will be represented by three teams on grand final day.
The Demons won the 13-and-under preliminary final against Maiden Gully YCW Eagles by six goals.
On the rebound from an eight-goal loss to Newbridge in the second semi, Maiden Gully YCW took on the Demons who won the first semi against Marong by four goals.
A 26-20 win by the Demons put them through to that one day in September.
Schedule for Saturday’s grand finals at Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval in Newbridge:
15-and-under at 10am, court one: Calivil United v Marong.
B-grade at 10am, court two: Bridgewater v Pyramid Hill.
17-and-under at 11.45am, court one: Bridgewater v Calivil United.
13-and-under at 11.45am, court two: Newbridge v Calivil United.
A-reserve at 1.30pm, court one: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles v Bridgewater.
B-reserve at 1.30pm, court two: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles v Pyramid Hill.
A-grade at 3.15pm, court one: Pyramid Hill v Mitiamo.