-By Nathan Dole
BRIDGEWATER will be striving to break Mitiamo’s winning streak in A-grade netball when the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL hits the season’s halfway mark on Saturday.
The round nine showdown between the Mean Machine and Superoos will be played at Bridgewater from 3pm.
As Bridgewater had the bye last round it was Mitiamo which claimed a 10-goal victory on its court at John Forbes Oval against Marong.
Unbeaten in its quest for back-to-back premierships, Mitiamo was under pressure from Marong in the first half.
The Superoos turned a two-goal lead at half-time into a 10-goal margin by the final siren against a spirited Marong line-up.
Key factor for the Caz Wood and Olivia Hoiles-coached Bridgewater in upsetting the Superoos will be strong defence, especially in mid-court and against Mitiamo’s goalers.
Mitiamo is jointly coached by Abbey Battersby and Jess Kaur.
Another important match will be at Malone Park in Marong where the Marong Panthers play Newbridge at Jackal Oval.
It’s fifth against third.
The Bridget Willox-coached Marong will be determined to bounce back its loss to Mitiamo and retain a four-point buffer on the sixth-placed Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
Big test for the Panthers as Newbridge’s fine form kept rolling in a 41-37 win against the Bears at Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval in Newbridge last round.
A Newbridge team coached by Selina Holland and Kristy Gandy beat Bridgewater by three goals and then took it right up to Mitiamo in a four-goal loss the next round.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles face a daunting task against Pyramid Hill at Marist Oval in Maiden Gully.
The Leisa Barry-coached Eagles have home-court advantage following a 32-goal win at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
Pyramid Hill soared past the 90-goal mark in last Saturday’s win against Calivil United at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
This season it’s Chelsea Emmerson, Simone Edgley and Laura Herbert who have teamed up as Pyramid Hill’s coaches in A-grade.
A six-one record has the Bulldogs in second place in the title race.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine will be home at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve to play Calivil United.
A win will ensure the Danielle O’Toole and Lara Clements-coached Bears stay in striking distance of the top five.
The Cindy Portwine-coached Calivil United Demons will aim to maintain a high level of pressure in every quarter.
Inglewood has the bye.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Mitiamo 171 per cent, 28 points; Pyramid Hill 141, 24; Newbridge 131, 20; Bridgewater 140, 16; Marong 105, 16; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 90, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 78, 8; Calivil United 63, 4; Inglewood 41, 0.
The Loddon Valley FNL netball ladders after eight rounds:
A-reserve:
Bridgewater 125 per cent, 24 points; Pyramid Hill 127, 22; Marong 142, 20; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 125, 20; Mitiamo 117, 18; Newbridge 121, 14; Calivil United 92, 6; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 57, 4; Inglewood 43, 0.
B-grade:
Bridgewater 171 per cent, 28 points; Marong 137, 24; Newbridge 132, 24; Pyramid Hill 122, 16; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 101, 16; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 88, 8; Mitiamo 73, 4; Inglewood 68, 4; Calivil United 64, 4.
B-reserve:
Bridgewater 142 per cent, 28 points; Pyramid Hill 153, 24; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 150, 24; Newbridge 106, 16; Marong 123, 12; Inglewood 96, 12; Calivil United 82, 8; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 51, 4; Mitiamo 48, 0.
17-and-under:
Bridgewater 200 per cent, 24 points; Calivil United 162, 24; Marong 152, 20; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 147, 20; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 83, 16; Pyramid Hill 67, 12; Mitiamo 77, 8; Inglewood 52, 4; Newbridge 47, 0.
15-and-under:
Calivil United 359 per cent, 28 points; Marong 185, 24; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 151, 24; Bridgewater 119, 16; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 95, 12; Inglewood 66, 12; Pyramid Hill 78, 8; Mitiamo 39, 4; Newbridge 39, 0.
13-and-under:
Newbridge 470 per cent, 28 points; Marong 189, 24; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 130, 20; Pyramid Hill 68, 16; Calivil United 129, 12; Inglewood 80, 12; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 51, 8; Bridgewater 69, 4; Mitiamo 28, 4.