BRIDGEWATER will be aiming to break Pyramid Hill’s winning run when they meet in Saturday’s 14th round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
The Mean Machine has home-court advantage at Bridgewater for a 3pm showdown with the Bulldogs.
As Bridgewater was beaten at Marong last Saturday by two goals, Pyramid Hill marked its fourth win in five matches as it claimed a 16-goal on its court at Mitchell Park against Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
When the Mean Machine and Bulldogs met in round five it was Pyramid Hill which scored a six-goal victory against the Caz Wood and Olivia Hoiles-coached Bridgewater squad.
A Bulldogs’ team coached by Chelsea Emmerson, Simone Edgley and Laura Herbert has achieved a win-loss tally of 10-2 and is second in the premiership race.
Another important match will be at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve where Bears-Lagoon Serpentine takes on Marong.
The Bears start this round in sixth place and 12 premiership points and more than 20 per cent behind the fifth-placed Marong.
Although qualifying for finals is a longshot, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine will be desperate to take the points this time.
In round five it was the Panthers who beat the Bears at Jackal Oval in Malone Park by eight goals.
The Bridget Willox-coached Marong played some of its best netball this season in a two-goal win against Bridgewater last Saturday.
In her second year coaching at the Bears, Danielle O’Toole will be keen to mark a victory against her former club.
The Bears who are jointly coached by Danielle O’Toole and Lara Clements had the bye last round.
Third in the premiership race, Newbridge will start favourite against Calivil United.
The Maroons have home-court advantage at Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval.
When these clubs met in round five it was the Selina Holland and Kristy Gandy-coached Newbridge which won by 27 goals on Calivil’s court.
The Maroons were in great form as they scored a 60-goal victory at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval last Saturday.
Coached by Cindy Portwine, Calivil United returns to the court after the bye.
Unbeaten and on top of the ladder, Mitiamo returns to its court at John Forbes Oval to play Inglewood.
The Jess Kaur and Abbey Battersby-coached Superoos beat the Blues by 41 goals at Inglewood in the fifth round.
Mitiamo scored more than 80 goals in its latest hit-out with Maiden Gully YCW Eagles at Marist College Oval.
Another huge test for the Caitlyn Cartwright-coached Inglewood and its ability to bring a high level of pressure to every quarter.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles has the bye.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Mitiamo 161 per cent, 44 points; Pyramid Hill 137, 40; Newbridge 146, 32; Bridgewater 144, 28; Marong 111, 28; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 90, 16; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 65, 12; Calivil United 68, 8; Inglewood 40, 0.
Netball ladders after 13 rounds:
A-reserve:
Bridgewater 131 per cent, 40 points; Marong 142,. 36; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 120, 36; Pyramid Hill 133, 34; Newbridge 124, 22; Mitiamo 98, 18; Calivil United 91, 14; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 57, 8; Inglewood 40, 0.
B-grade:
Bridgewater 172 per cent, 44 points; Marong 142, 40; Newbridge 125, 32; Pyramid Hill 119, 30; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 95, 26; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 90, 16; Calivil United 64, 12; Mitiamo 69, 4; Inglewood 66, 4.
B-reserve:
Pyramid Hill 147 per cent, 40 points; Bridgewater 145, 40; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 143, 40; Newbridge 105, 28; Marong 110, 20; Inglewood 94, 20; Calivil United 83, 16; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 56, 4; Mitiamo 50, 0.
17-and-under:
Bridgewater 205 per cent, 44 points; Calivil United 159, 40; Marong 154, 32; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 149, 32; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 81, 24; Pyramid Hill 68, 16; Mitiamo 66, 12; Inglewood 50, 6; Newbridge 48, 2.
15-and-under:
Calivil United 335 per cent, 44 points; Marong 173, 36; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 129, 36; Bridgewater 138, 32; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 96, 22; Pyramid Hill 97, 18; Inglewood 65, 16; Mitiamo 32, 4; Newbridge 39, 0.
13-and-under:
Newbridge 412 per cent, 44 points; Marong 146, 32; Calivil United 143, 32; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 111, 32; Pyramid Hill 74, 24; Bridgewater 104, 20; Inglewood 75, 12; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 50, 8; Mitiamo 30, 4.