BIG-GAME experience of Marong and Bridgewater was a key factor as they won the weekend’s senior footy semi-finals in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL competition.
Chasing a fifth consecutive premiership, Marong had to fight hard to beat Inglewood in Sunday’s first semi-final at Bridgewater Recreation Reserve.
The Jackson Hood-coached Inglewood looked on track to make it Marong’s last game in the Valley before crossing to the Bendigo FNL as the Blues led by 17 points at half-time.
In the third it was Marong which lifted its intensity and run.
The James Flaherty-coached Marong scored 3.1 to make it 41-all going into the last quarter.
Accuracy near goal became a factor as the Panthers scored four goals and the Blues added two.
Although it had five less scoring shots, Marong won 10.6 (66) as Inglewood finished on 7.14 (56).
The Panthers’ attack was led by Michael Bradbury on four goals as captain Nathan Devanny and Richard Tibbett kicked two goals and Noah McCaig and Ryley Taylor added one each.
Goalkickers for the Blues were Bregon Cotchett, Charles Ingham and Liam Marciano on two each as Kai Cavallaro kicked the other.
Best for Marong were Jimmy Gadsden, Matt Willox, Corey Gregg, Richard Tibbett, Nathan Devanny and Noah McCaig.
Inglewood’s best were Liam Marciano, Bregon Cotchett, Thomas Kennedy, Will Allen, Charlie Aitken and Gabe Nevins.
The Panthers will now prepare to play Pyramid Hill in next Saturday’s preliminary final at John Forbes Oval in Mitiamo.
It was a goalscoring frenzy in Saturday’s seniors second semi-final between Bridgewater and Pyramid Hill at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
There were 34 goals kicked in an enthralling duel between the Mean Machine and Bulldogs.
Bridgewater scored eight goals straight in the opening team to lead 48-21 at the break.
The Mean Machine’s accuracy was superb as it ended the first half on a score of 13.1 as Pyramid Hill was on 8.6.
In the third it was the Jarrod Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill which turned up the heat.
As the Bulldogs scored 6.3 they kept Bridgewater to a tally of 3.3.
The Lachie Sharp-coached Bridgewater led 100-93 going into the last term.
A score of 2.1 was enough for the Mean Machine to clinch a dramatic 113-111 victory after the Bulldogs scored 2.6 in the fourth quarter.
Oscar McKinley and Lachie Sharp dominated in Bridgewater’s attack with six goals each as Luke Ellings and Nic Naughton booted two goals and Tyler Estrada and Mitch Patten were also on target.
Leading goalkicker for Pyramid Hill was Lachlan Sidebottom on three goals.
Brodie Carroll, Mitch Jorgensen and Levi Moss kicked two goals each as Zach Alford, Jhye Baddeley-Kelly, Ben Fuller, Blake Gibson, Harrison Goodes, Dylan Lovell and Ryan McGhie featured on the goals list.
Bridgewater’s best were Lachie Sharp, Joseph Mayes, Luke Ellings, Ben Derrick, Jack Merrin and Jack Neylon.
Best for Pyramid Hill were Robby Bartee, James Sala, Brodie Carroll, Tom Downie, Levi Moss and Lachlan Sidebottom.
Runner-up last September, Bridgewater will meet Pyramid Hill or Marong in the September 12 grand final at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
In the reserves competition, Newbridge dominated the last quarter of the first semi-final to beat Maiden Gully YCW Eagles by three goals.
Newbridge led 19-7 at quarter-time and 44-28 by the main break.
The Eagles swooped on plenty of chances in the third term to score five goals as the Maroons were held to a tally of 1.3.
Maiden Gully YCW led 59-53 at a quarter to play.
With premiership hopes on the line it was Newbridge which lifted.
The Maroons slammed on four goals and kept the Eagles to a point in the last.
When the siren sounded it was Newbridge’s players and fans who celebrated a 78-60 victory.
The experienced Chris Lakey kicked five goals for Newbridge as Brodie Pearce and Aidan Browne slotted three and two goals.
Matt Adams and Chris Dixon were also on target for the Maroons.
For the Eagles it was Tyler James and Joey Doolan who capped off moves with five and three goals as Riley Boumeester kicked the other.
Best for Newbridge were Matt Adams, Scott Balestra, Jirah Dawkins, Keelan Bertuch, Zach Englefield and Aidan Brown.
The Eagles’ best were Leo Bosley, Tyler Kinnane, Tyler James, Joey Doolan, Matt Woolley and Angus Blandthorn.
An unbeaten Bridgewater progressed to the grand final after it won Saturday’s second semi against Inglewood by 20 points.
The Mean Machine charged to a 27-12 lead by quarter-time and was up 43-24 by the long break.
Bridgewater’s ability to score three goals and limit the Blues to a major in the third meant the Machine held a 32-point buffer going into the final term.
Inglewood did not give up and score three goals in the last.
When the siren sounded it was Bridgewater which led 70-50.
Joel Green, Ollie Muggleton and Toby Naughton kicked two goals each for Bridgewater as Jeremy Campbell, Brad Holt, Josh Roberts and Tyson Taylor were also on target.
Goalkickers for the Blues were Mason Lane, two; Deklen Gorrie, Tarran Kilcullen, Jayden Leach, Callum March, Sam Polack and Jackson Rutter.
Best for Bridgewater were Tyson Taylor, Charlton Hindle, James Naughton, Joel Green, Jeremy Campbell and Toby Naughton.
Inglewood’s best were Sam Polack, Andrew Bennett, Callum March, Jack Nevins, Jackson Rutter and Harry Bogaski.
The Blues will meet the Maroons in the preliminary final in Mitiamo.
A dominant third quarter set up Marong’s victory in the under-18s first semi-final against Newbridge.
The Maroons led 14-13 at quarter-time before the Panthers won the second term, 14-7.
In the third quarter it was Marong which scored 5.3 and kept Newbridge to just two majors.
Both teams scored 4.1 in the final term as the Panthers clinched an 85-58 victory.
Captain Cooper Murphy capped a great match for Marong with six goals as Angus Costello and Caleb Dudderidge kicked two each.
The Panthers had Liam Henson, Kaidyn Higgins and Robert Leech add a goal each.
Newbridge’s attack was led by Elliot Bird and Harrison Allison with three and two goals as Oskar Chilver, Tayte Frasley, Alec and Levi van Dillen kicked a goal.
Best for Marong were Max O’Donnell, Cooper Murphy, Harry Wilson, Caleb Dudderidge, Liam Henson and Angus Costello.
Newbridge’s best were Oliver Steen, Elliot Bird, Harry Dunn, Bevan Smart, Alec van Dillen and James Madden.
The Panthers will face Bridgewater in the preliminary final.
Although it led 28-26 at half-time, Bridgewater could not halt Maiden Gully YCW Eagles in the second half.
As Maiden Gully YCW scored two goals in the third quarter Bridgewater added a point.
Beaten just once in the home-and-away series the Eagles dominated the final quarter.
The Eagles scored four goals to seal a 63-30 victory.
Liam Budge, Lincoln Hancock and Steven Neervoort led the attack on two goals each as Ollie Bowman, Preston Risicato, Zac Turner and Joel Wittingslow slotted a goal.
Goals for Bridgewater were kicked by Ollie Clapp, Toby Fraser, Logan Moss and Xavier Potter.
Maiden Gully YCW’s best were Zac Turner, Harry Carter, Tahlan Brook, Slater Piazza, Jack Ladner and Preston Risicato.
Bridgewater’s best were Dylan Goddard, Tate Woodhatch, Will Lacy, Campbell Fraser, Ollie Clapp and Rusty Hobbs.
Schedule for Saturday’s preliminary finals at John Forbes Oval in Mitiamo:
Under-18s at 10.40am: Bridgewater v Marong.
Reserves at 12.30pm: Inglewood v Newbridge.
Seniors at 2.15pm: Pyramid Hill v Marong.
In the netball action…….BRIDGEWATER and Mitiamo reigned supreme in the A-grade netball contests in week two of the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL finals series.
The Mean Machine stayed in the premiership race as it won Sunday’s first semi-final against Pyramid Hill by 12 goals.
On the rebound from a two-goal loss to Newbridge in the qualifying final, Bridgewater teamed superbly against the Bulldogs at Bridgewater Recreation Reserve.
At the final siren the Carly Wild and Lou Dupuy-coached Bridgewater led 53-41 against the red, white and blue which was runner-up to Mitiamo last season.
It was a danger game for the Mean Machine after Pyramid Hill won the elimination final against Inglewood by four goals.
Pyramid Hill was coached by Chelsea Emmerson.
For Bridgewater the focus is now on Newbridge in next Saturday’s preliminary final in Mitiamo’s home at John Forbes Oval.
On Saturday it was Mitiamo which outplayed Newbridge to win the A-grade second semi-final by 12 goals.
The Jen Wilson-coached Mitiamo again showed its strength in all thirds of the court on its way to a 62-50 victory at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
The Superoos are on track to claim the premiership hat-trick.
Mitiamo will chase history on September 12 at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
As Mitiamo takes a rest next Saturday it will be Newbridge fighting Bridgewater for a place in the grand final.
The Hayley Martiniello-coached Newbridge has a three-nil record against Bridgewater this season.
Margin each time was two goals.
Five clubs had wins in the first semi-finals.
Marong won the A-reserve and 15-and-under matches by 13 and nine goals.
The Maiden Gully YCW Eagles won the B-grade clash by nine goals and the 13-and-under match by 23 goals.
There were closely-fought finishes in B-reserve and 17-and-under.
Calivil United marked a 40-36 victory against Mitiamo to stay in the B-reserve race.
It was a three-goal margin in the 17-and-under competition as Mitiamo defeated Pyramid Hill, 38-35.
Clubs which have teams in grand finals are Bridgewater, A-reserve and B-reserve; Calivil United 15-and-under, 13-and-under; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles, 17-and-under; Mitiamo, A-grade; and Newbridge, B-grade.
There were some dramatic finishes across Saturday’s play at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
In the battle of the Bridges it was Bridgewater which scored a 49-44 win against Newbridge in A-reserve.
Unbeaten in the 18-round home-and-away series, Newbridge charged to a 16-goal victory in the B-grade clash with Bridgewater.
Heat was on in the Demons’ den as just two goals separated teams at the end of the B-reserve and 17-and-under matches.
Bridgewater won the B-reserve showdown with Inglewood, 42-40.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles swooped for a 53-51 victory against the previously undefeated Calivil United in the 17-and-under showdown.
Closest margin of the day was in the 15-and-under competition where Calivil United won 45-44 to end Newbridge’s winning streak on 18 matches.
Calivil United’s unbeaten streak kept rolling in a 38-23 victory against Mitiamo in the 13-and-under match.
Loddon Valley FNL netball, first semi-finals scoreboard:
A-grade: Bridgewater 53 d Pyramid Hill 41.
A-reserve: Marong 45 d Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 32.
B-grade: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 44 d Marong 35.
B-reserve: Calivil United 40 d Mitiamo 36.
17-and-under: Mitiamo 38 d Pyramid Hill 35.
15-and-under: Marong 57 d Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 48.
13-and-under: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 44 d Newbridge 21.
Loddon Valley FNL netball, second semi-final scoreboard:
A-grade: Mitiamo 62 d Newbridge 50.
A-reserve: Bridgewater 49 d Newbridge 44.
B-grade: Newbridge 46 d Bridgewater 30.
B-reserve: Bridgewater 42 d Inglewood 40.
17-and-under: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 53 d Calivil United 51.
15-and-under: Calivil United 45 d Newbridge 44.
13-and-under: Calivil United 38 d Mitiamo 23.
Schedule for Saturday’s preliminary finals at John Forbes Oval in Mitiamo:
15-and-under, 10.30am on court one: Newbridge v Marong.
17-and-under, 12pm on court one: Calivil United v Mitiamo.
13-and-under, 12pm on court two: Mitiamo v Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
B-reserve, 1.30pm on court two: Inglewood v Calivil United.
A-reserve, 1.30pm on court one: Newbridge v Marong.
A-grade, 3pm on court one: Newbridge v Bridgewater.
B-grade, 3pm on court two: Bridgewater v Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.