-By Nathan Dole
IT WAS an almighty scare for Bears-Lagoon Serpentine against Calivil United in Saturday’s ninth round of senior footy across the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL.
Playing on home turf at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve the Bears faced a 17-point deficit at quarter-time and were down by eight at the long break.
The Sam Maher-coached Demons brought plenty of heat to the contest and goalkicking accuracy as they scored 6.3 as the Bears racked up 4.7 in the first hour.
Both teams added a goal in the third term as the Bears drew within five points.
In the last it was the Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears who seized control at stoppages.
A tally of eight scoring shots from which it scored 3.8 was a sign of the Bears’ dominance on the to an eventual 68-48 victory.
Farran Priest led the BLS attack on four goals as Harry Gadsden and Harding medallist Justin Laird kicked two.
The Demons’ leading goalkicker was Liam Stephens with three.
Best for the Bears were Tyler Miles at half-back, Farran Priest, Callum Draper, Nathan Twigg, Justin Laird and Darcy Poulter.
Ronan Sheehan, Rhys Lourie, Riley Walsh, Sam Green, Lachlan Rudden and Thomas Piazza were Calivil United’s best.
Bridgewater coach Lachie Sharp kicked 10 goals and in doing so past the 50-goal mark in a big win at home against Mitiamo.
A high-scoring opening quarter went Bridgewater’s way, 39-24.
The Mean Machine added 5.1 in the second as Mitiamo scored 2.3.
The third quarter was dominated by Bridgewater as it slammed on 6.5 and kept the Superoos scoreless.
Sharp went on to kick 10 as Oliver Muggleton booted two in a 120-42 victory.
Mitiamo’s leading goalkickers were Brayden Baines and Alex Lloyd on two.
Bridgewater’s best were Lachie Sharp, Luke Ellings, Harry McKinley, Jack Neylon, Darcy Wood and Harry Conway.
Zach Morrison, Cody Tuohey, coach Luke Lougoon, Zak Myers, Ryan Duncan and Matt Gilmour played well for the Superoos.
A nine-goal blitz in the second quarter set up Pyramid Hill’s big win against Maiden Gully YCW Eagles at Maiden Gully’s Marist College Oval.
A closely-fought first term went the way of the Bulldogs, 16-13.
In the second Pyramid Hill’s forwards capitalised on their team’s dominance to score 9.2.
By half-time the Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Bulldogs led 72-15.
Maiden Gully YCW fought back to score 2.1 and kept the Dogs to a tally of 3.2 in the third.
Zach Alford went on to kick four goals and Ben Bisset booted three in a 105-31 win for the red, white and blue.
Other multiple goalkickers for Pyramid Hill were Jasper Cheesman and Steven Gunther on two.
Maiden Gully YCW’s attack was led by Tyler James on two.
Best for Pyramid Hill were Mitch Langan at half-back, Ben Knight, ruckman Kai Daniels, Gavin James, Levi Moss and Ben Bisset.
The Eagles’ best were Mitch Hill, Ed Crisp, Lewis Pigdon, Daniel Russell, Tyson Webster and Tyson Jackson.
Maiden Gully YCW is jointly coached by Shawn Filo, non-playing, and Angus Monfries, playing.
The Eagles did not have Monfries who played for Essendon and Port Adelaide on field on Saturday.
Marong’s unbeaten run kept on rolling as the Panthers brought up their 26th consecutive victory on home turf at Jackal Oval in Malone Park.
On Saturday the Panthers took on Newbridge.
Marong led 35-6 at the first break and 70-13 by half-time.
Co-coach Kain Robins was in superb form as he kicked seven goals and Max Lowery and Kepler Thompson added two in a 110-26 victory.
Best for Marong were Matt Willox in the ruck duels, Kain Robins, captain Nathan Devanny, Jacob Ede, Shannon Geary and Jimmy Gadsden.
A list of goalkickers and best players for the Matt McArthur-coached Newbridge was not supplied.
Inglewood had the bye.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Marong 225 per cent, 32 points; Pyramid Hill 200, 28; Bridgewater 142, 24; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 133, 20; Inglewood 131, 16; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 69, 10; Newbridge 51, 8; Mitiamo 45, 4; Calivil United 40, 2.
The second half of the home-and-away series kicks off this Saturday at 2.15pm.
After a draw in their round one showdown, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles and Calivil United will play at Marist College in Maiden Gully.
Marong tackles Inglewood at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine faces Bridgewater at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Pyramid Hill and Newbridge will clash at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
Mitiamo has the bye.
Leading goalkickers:
53 Lachie Sharp, Bridgewater.
43 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
42 Seb Erharter, Inglewood.
36 Ben Bisset, Pyramid Hill.
26 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
22 Billy Schilling, Newbridge.
20 Kain Robins, Marong.
19 Ryan Semmel, Pyramid Hill.
17 Tyler James, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
17 Oscar McKinley, Bridgewater.
14 Zach Alford, Pyramid Hill.
14 Brayden Baines, Mitiamo.
13 Liam Marciano, Inglewood.
13 Farran Priest, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
12 Bregon Cotchett, Inglewood.
12 Oliver Watt, Bridgewater.
11 Daniel Polack, Inglewood.
10 Nathan Devanny, Marong.
10 Justin Laird, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.