Eagles soar to five netball premiership victories
THE Eagles from Maiden Gully YCW won all five grand finals they contested in Saturday’s finale to the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley Football Netball League season.
Goalers Tia Webb and Meg Patterson were in hot form as the Eagles took on Mitiamo in the A-grade premiership decider at Marist College Bendigo in Maiden Gully.
After a 13-1 run in the home and away series, the Eagles were outplayed by Mitiamo in the second semi-final.
The Christie Griffiths-coached Eagles started strongly in the fight for the premiership cup against the Laura Hicks-coached Superoos who were chasing back-to-back grand final wins.
Scores were locked on 29-all at half-time before the Eagles scored four unanswered goals.
Mitiamo tried, but could not halt Maiden Gully YCW’s run to a 61-53 victory.
The winner of the Helen Ward medal as the competition’s fairest and best, Webb earned best on court honours in the grand final.
The Webb sisters, Tia, Jarrenhy and Shallon all won premierships.
The league’s fairest and best, Jarrenhy played a key role in the B-grade victory, and Shallon did so in C-grade.
Both of those grand final wins were against Bridgewater.
Eagles’ centre Phoenix Pointon capped a memorable day by being best on court in the B-grade and C-grade wins.
After a 16-goal loss to Bridgewater in the B-grade second semi, Maiden Gully played inspired netball for a 41-33 result in the grand final showdown with the Mean Machine.
The Christine Gray-coached Maiden Gully YCW marked an unbeaten run to the C-grade premiership as it scored a 43-35 win against Bridgewater.
In C-reserve, Eagles’ skipper Milly Burgess was best on court as the Emily Mynard-coached team beat Marong, 48-31.
A brilliant second quarter set up Maiden Gully YCW’s victory in the 17-and-under clash with Calivil United.
The Eagles won the second, 19-8, on the way to a 43-29 victory.
It was first of three grand final wins for coach Christie Griffiths.
Best on court medal was presented to Bronte Baxter.
The Brittany Hercus-coached 15-and-under team from Marong scored a 52-26 win against Pyramid Hill.
Charli Crawford was best on court as the Panthers won their first premiership in the 15-under category.
It was a showdown between Pyramid Hill and Marong in the 13-under grand final.
The Kirsty Twigg-coached Pyramid Hill won every quarter in a 39-23 result.
Best on court was Jamieson Walters from Pyramid Hill.
Loddon Valley FNL netball grand final scoreboard:
A-grade:
Mitiamo 15, 29, 43, 53
Maiden Gully YCW 14, 29, 46, 61
Best: Tia Webb, MGYCW.
B-grade:
Bridgewater 10, 19, 30, 33
Maiden Gully YCW 8, 19, 28, 41
Best: Phoenix Pointon, MGYCW.
C-grade:
Maiden Gully YCW 10, 25, 36, 43
Bridgewater 9, 19, 26, 35
Best: Phoenix Pointon, MGYCW.
C-reserve:
Maiden Gully YCW 15, 25, 37, 48
Marong 5, 15, 21, 31
Best: Amelia Burgess, MGYCW.
17-and-under:
Maiden Gully YCW 11, 25, 35, 43
Calivil United 7, 14, 22, 29
Best: Bronte Baxter, MGYCW.
15-and-under:
Marong 14, 23, 39, 52
Pyramid Hill 8, 12, 19, 26
Best: Charli Crawford, Marong.
13-and-under:
Marong 7, 14, 21, 23
Pyramid Hill 11, 20, 29, 39
Best: Jamieson Walters, Pyramid Hill.
Written by Nathan Dole.
Photo Courtesy – MGYCW Facebook
