-By Nathan Dole
A CRUCIAL contest will be played on the netball court at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve in Saturday’s fourth round of A-grade action in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
The Bears have home-court advantage for a showdown between third and fifth.
Play for the A-grade teams will start at 3pm.
As the Bears had the bye last Saturday, Pyramid Hill was on the end of a 55-65 result against Mitiamo at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
Defensive pressure will be a priority for a BLS team jointly coached by Danielle O’Toole and Lara Clements.
The Bears’ squad includes captain and co-coach Danielle O’Toole, Ellen McRae, Sarah Perry and Casey Zass.
A talented line-up in red, white and blue is coached by Chelsea Emmerson, Simone Edgley and Laura Herbert.
Pyramid Hill’s squad across A-grade and A-reserve includes Jordann Boad, Abbey, Amber and Morgan Dingwall, and Jessica Holdstock.
Another big match will be at Bridgewater where the Mean Machine faces Marong.
Both teams won on Anzac weekend.
The Caz Wood and Olivia Hoiles-coached Bridgewater won 69-013 on Inglewood’s court at Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
Bridgewater’s squad includes gun defender Carly Van Den Heuvel, Lou Dupuy and Chelsie Martyn.
Marong also played great netball in a 59-43 victory in the den of the Calivil United Demons.
The Panthers are coached by Bridget Willox.
Mitiamo returns to John Forbes Oval to play Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
A Superoos team coached by Abbey Battersby and Jess Kaur marked the trek to Pyramid Hill by scoring a 10-goal win.
Another big test for the Leisa Barry-coached Eagles on the rebound from a 30-goal loss to Newbridge on Anzac Day at Marist College Oval in Maiden Gully.
Newbridge takes on Inglewood at Deepcore Drilling Oval in Newbridge’s Riverside Oval.
The Selina Holland and Kristy Gandy-coached Newbridge will be determined not to let the intensity or standards drop to low level following a 54-24 win on Maiden Gully YCW Eagles’ court.
The Caitlyn Cartwright-coached Inglewood faces a task in all thirds of the court.
Calivil United has the bye.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Bridgewater 167 per cent, 8 points; Mitiamo 160, 8; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 150, 8; Marong 129, 8; Pyramid Hill 102, 8; Newbridge 130, 4; Maiden Gully YCW 76, 4; Calivil United 65, 0; Inglewood 34, 0.
League ladders:
A-reserve:
Marong 157 per cent, 12 points; Bridgewater 153, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 113, 8; Pyramid Hill 106, 6; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 98, 4; Newbridge 87, 2; Calivil United 86, 2; Mitiamo 85, 2; Inglewood 41, 0.
B-grade:
Bridgewater 178 per cent, 12 points; Marong 153, 12; Newbridge 141, 8; Pyramid Hill 112, 4; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 91, 4; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 85, 4; Calivil United 70, 4; Mitiamo 63, 0; Inglewood 62, 0.
B-reserve:
Pyramid Hill 138 per cent, 12 points; Bridgewater 137, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 131, 8; Calivil United 103, 8; Marong 105, 4; Inglewood 98, 4; Newbridge 83, 0; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 52, 0; Mitiamo 49, 0.
17-and-under:
Bridgewater 278 per cent, 12 points; Calivil United 133, 12; Marong 178, 8; Pyramid Hill 94, 8; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 142, 4; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 52, 4; Mitiamo 64, 0; Inglewood 43, 0; Newbridge 31, 0.
15-and-under:
Calivil United 270 per cent, 12 points; Pyramid Hill 145, 8; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 144.6, 8; Marong 144.1, 8; Bridgewater 132, 8; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 75, 4; Newbridge 50, 0; Inglewood 46, 0; Mitiamo 24, 0.
13-and-under:
Marong 197 per cent, 12 points; Newbridge 443, 8; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 90, 8; Calivil United 132, 4; Bridgewater 106, 4; Inglewood 100, 4; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 69, 4; Pyramid Hill 32, 4; Mitiamo 14, 0.