INGLEWOOD capped 150th anniversary celebrations by winning its senior footy clash with Bears Lagoon-Serpentine in Saturday’s start to round nine in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
The Blues and Bears met in a stand-alone match at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
After a three-nil start to season, Inglewood now sits on a six-three tally after a 42-point victory against Bears Lagoon-Serpentine.
A seventh defeat will make it difficult for the Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears to qualify for finals once again.
It was closely-fought first half as hundreds packed the ground to mark a special occasion in Inglewood FNC’s history.
The Blues led 27-25 at quarter-time and 49-45 by the long break.
The Jackson Hood-coached Inglewood then upped the pressure and run in the vital third quarter.
As the Blues scored five goals they kept BLS to a tally of two behinds.
Inglewood led 83-47 going into the final term.
The last went the way of the Blues, 19-13.
Daniel Godden kicked three goals for Inglewood in the 102-60 victory.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Blues were Kai Cavallaro, Lachlan Harris, Liam Marciano and Mitch Pickering on two each.
The Bears’ attack was led by Farran Priest on a match-high four goals as James Bailey added two.
Best for Inglewood were Bregon Cotchett, Liam Marciano, Daniel Godden, Lachlan Harris, Charles Ingham and Tom Kennedy.
The Bears’ best were Callum Draper, Jake Wilkinson, Andy Gladman, Farran Priest and Nathan Twigg.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Bridgewater 187 per cent, 28 points; Marong 180, 28; Pyramid Hill 170, 28; Inglewood 142, 24; Macorna 102, 16; Newbridge 84, 16; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 79, 8; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 75, 8; Mitiamo 56, 4; Calivil United 39, 4.
Round nine will be completed next Saturday from 2.15pm.
Newbridge will be on home turf at Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval against Pyramid Hill.
Macorna tackles Bridgewater in the Tigers’ den at Macorna Recreation Reserve.
Marong meets Mitiamo at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
Calivil United faces Maiden Gully YCW Eagles’ in the Demons’ den at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
44 Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, PH; Lachie Sharp, B.
29 Dimitri Fasoulis, Mac.
27 Cooper Hale, Mar.
22 Farran Priest, BLS.
16 Mischa Fraillon, I; Oscar McKinley, B; Caleb Sanders, N.
15 Seth Wright, Miti.
14 Zach Alford, PH; Brandon Dimech, N; Bregon Cotchett, I; Brad Matthews, Mar.
13 Mitch Pickering, I.
12 Seb Erharter, Mac.; Tyler James, MGYCW; Bryce Laird, Miti.; Noah McCaig, Mar.
In the netball……..INGLEWOOD scored its sixth victory this A-grade netball season in Saturday’s start to round nine in Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL action.
Winless the previous two seasons, Inglewood has made a stunning turnaround in ’26.
As the club celebrated its 150th anniversary in stand-alone matches against Bears Lagoon-Serpentine at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
The Dani O’Toole-coached Blues controlled a lot of the play on a way to a 57-42 victory.
Inglewood was on the rebound from a 10-goal loss at Newbridge’s Deepcore Drilling Oval in Riverside Park the previous round.
It’s been a tough run for the Erin Varker-coached Bears who took on the Blues following games against reigning premier Mitiamo, last season’s runner-up in Pyramid Hill, and Newbridge.
A great day for Inglewood included wins in five of the other six netball contests.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition after first week in split ninth round:
Mitiamo 196 per cent, 32 per cent; Newbridge 117, 24; Inglewood 103, 24; Bridgewater 143, 20; Pyramid Hill 116, 20; Marong 107, 20; Calivil United 81, 12; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 64, 8; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 60, 4; Macorna 55, 0.
Scores from week one in round nine:
A-reserve:
Inglewood 68 d Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 28.
B-grade:
Inglewood 39 d Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 27.
B-reserve:
Inglewood 41 d Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 26.
17-and-under:
Inglewood d Bears Lagoon-Serpentine (forfeit).
15-and-under:
Inglewood 12 lt Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 15.
13-and-under:
Inglewood 18 d Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 7.
Round nine will be completed on June 13.
Match of the day will be Newbridge against Pyramid Hill from 3pm at Riverside Park.
Macorna hosts Bridgewater, Marong takes on Mitiamo at Jackal Oval in Malone Park, and Calivil United meets Maiden Gully YCW Eagles in the clash of the Demons and Eagles at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
Loddon Valley FNL netball ladders after first week in split ninth round:
A-reserve:
Bridgewater 210 per cent, 32 points; Marong 157, 26; Newbridge 156, 24; Calivil United 112, 22; Pyramid Hill 107, 18; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 91, 14; Mitiamo 79, 12; Inglewood 81, 8; Macorna 47, 4; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 36, 4.
B-grade:
Newbridge 237 per cent, 32 points; Bridgewater 150, 28; Calivil United 108, 20; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 105, 20; Inglewood 103, 20; Marong 87, 14; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 86, 14; Pyramid Hill 89, 8; Macorna 85, 8; Mitiamo 36, 0.
B-reserve:
Bridgewater 190 per cent, 32 points; Inglewood 117, 28; Newbridge 144, 24; Marong 128, 20; Calivil United 115, 20; Pyramid Hill 110, 12; Mitiamo 97, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 82, 12; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 52, 4; Macorna 33, 0.
17-and-under:
Calivil United 422 per cent, 32 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 214, 32; Mitiamo 118, 24; Pyramid Hill 108, 20; Bridgewater 92, 16; Marong 87, 16; Macorna 49, 8; Inglewood 41, 8; Newbridge 31, 8.
15-and-under:
Newbridge 368 per cent, 32 points; Calivil United 584, 28; Marong 243, 24; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 213, 24; Bridgewater 86, 16; Mitiamo 45, 12; Pyramid Hill 41, 8; Inglewood 37, 8; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 22, 8; Macorna 31, 4.
13-and-under:
Calivil United 1319 per cent, 32 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 466, 32; Mitiamo 180 24; Newbridge 136, 20; Marong 109, 20; Inglewood 62, 12; Bridgewater 62, 12; Pyramid Hill 29, 8; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 19, 4; Macorna 11, 0.