-By Nathan Dole
A 10-GOAL victory in Saturday’s sixth round ensured Bears-Lagoon Serpentine kept the heat on Inglewood in the fight for a top-five berth on the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley senior footy ladder.
The Bears dominated most of the contest in the Maiden Gully YCW Eagles nest at Marist College Oval.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine kicked away to a 27-7 lead at quarter-time and then won the second, 17-10.
A highlight of the Bears’ play was it defensive intensity as it worked to restrict the Eagles to just three goals.
Gun forward Josh Mellington finished the match with six goals as the Bears marked an 89-29 victory.
Best for the Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears were Callum Draper, Jaxon Addlem, Nash Kemp, Andy Gladman and Harry Gadsden.
Anthony Robins, Grayson Brown, Mitch Hill, Matthew Crooks, co-coach Angus Monfries and Tyson Jackson were Maiden Gully YCW’s best.
The Eagles have Shawn Filo as non-playing co-coach.
Bridgewater coach Lachie Sharp hit the 10-goal mark once again as the Mean Machine dominated its home game with Calivil United.
After an evenly-fought first term, Bridgewater led 21-14.
The Mean Machine then slammed on 8.5 as the Demons were held to a tally of four behinds in the second term.
Calivil United fought back to score 4.5 in the third as Bridgewater added 5.2.
Another five goals by the Machine in the last completed a 141-55 victory.
Sharp kicked 10 goals in a best-on-ground performance as Oliver Watt booted three majors and Ben Derrick and Tyler Estrada chipped in with two.
Calivil United’s attack was led by Henry McCarthy and Lewis Williams on two.
Best for Bridgewater were Lachie Sharp, Harry Conway, Ben Derrick, Josh Martyn, Alex Powell and Luke Ellings.
Sam Green, Jayden Leach, Lewis Fisher, Riley Walsh, Henry McCarthy and Cody Thompson were best for the Sam Maher-coached Demons.
Newbridge overcame a seven-point deficit at the start of the final term to defeat Mitiamo by nine points at John Forbes Oval in Mitiamo.
After Newbridge led 20-18 at quarter-time it was the Luke Lougoon-coached Mitiamo which won the next two quarters, 14-8 and 12-9.
The Matt McArthur-coached Newbridge took control in the last to score 3.5 as the Superoos were held to a tally of 1.1.
Billy Schilling finished on a match-high four goals as Newbridge marked a 60-51 victory.
Mitiamo’s leading goalkicker was Cody Tuohey on two.
Best for Newbridge were Will Copland, Jed Zimmer, Tyler Constable, Billy Schilling, Kobe Friswell and Jack Teasdale.
Luke Lougoon, Cody Tuohey, Andrew Cussen, Ryan Duncan, Tyler Rasmussen and Jackson Falls played well for the Superoos.
Pyramid Hill notched a 62-point win on its turf at Mitchell Park against Inglewood.
The Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Bulldogs led 33-12 at quarter-time and 66-48 by the long break.
Eight goals in the third by the Hill’s line-up put the result beyond doubt.
A brilliant on-baller and multiple league medallist during his time with the Huntly Hawks, Ryan Semmel was superb as he kicked nine goals in a 134-72 victory.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Bulldogs were Harrison Goodes with three and Ben Bisset on two.
Inglewood’s attack was led by Seb Erharter on five and Bregon Cotchett and Thomas Kennedy with two.
Best for Pyramid Hill were Ryan Semmel, ruckman Kai Daniels, Brodie Carroll, Harrison Goodes, Steven Gunther and Ben Knight.
Thomas Kennedy, Bregon Cotchett, coach Fergus Payne, Liam Marciano, Cody Stobaus and Seb Erharter were best for the Blues.
Marong had the bye.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Marong 186 per cent, 20 points; Pyramid Hill 158, 20; Bridgewater 115, 16; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 81, 10; Inglewood 116, 8; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 88, 8; Newbridge 76, 8; Mitiamo 60, 4; Calivil United 50, 2.
In next Saturday’s seventh round it’s Newbridge against Bridgewater from 2.15pm at Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval in Newbridge.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine takes on Mitiamo at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Marong and Maiden Gully YCW Eagles clash at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
Calivil United hosts Inglewood at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
Pyramid Hill has the bye.
Leading goalkickers:
39 Lachie Sharp, Bridgewater.
32 Seb Erharter, Inglewood.
23 Ben Bisset, Pyramid Hill.
20 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
18 Billy Schilling, Newbridge.
17 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
15 Ryan Semmel, Pyramid Hill.
12 Tyler James, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
12 Liam Marciano, Inglewood.
11 Brayden Baines, Mitiamo.
11 Oscar McKinley, Bridgewater.
9 Harrison Goodes, Pyramid Hill.
8 Bregon Cotchett, Inglewood.
8 Luke Crawford, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
8 Oliver Watt, Bridgewater.
7 Zach Alford, Pyramid Hill.
7 Nathan Devanny, Marong.
7 Daniel Polack, Inglewood.
7 Kain Robins, Marong.
7 Seth Wright, Mitiamo.
6 Kai Cavallaro, Inglewood.
6 Jacob Ede, Marong.
6 Jack McCaig, Marong.
6 Noah McCaig, Marong.
6 Matt Willox, Marong.
6 Jed Zimmer, Newbridge.
5 Brodie Carroll, Pyramid Hill.
5 Mitchell Cheesman, Pyramid Hill.
5 Luke Ellings, Bridgewater.
5 Steven Gunther, Pyramid Hill.
5 Ben Knight, Pyramid Hill.
5 Mitch Langan, Pyramid Hill.
5 Jake Lawry, Calivil United.
5 Henry McCarthy, Calivil United.
5 Angus Monfries, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
5 Nathan Twigg, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.