-By Nathan Dole
BRIDGEWATER fought on to score a seven-point victory on Inglewood’s turf at Centre State Scaffolding Oval on Saturday in round three of senior footy across the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL.
The Mean Machine raced to a 32-9 lead by quarter-time before the Blues fought back to be within 16 points at the long break.
Both teams added two goals apiece in the third as the Mean Machine led 75-56 at a quarter to play.
The Fergus Payne-coached Inglewood won the last, 22-10, but it was Bridgewater which held on for an 85-78 victory.
Bridgewater coach Lachlan Sharp kicked a match-high five goals as Oliver Watt booted three.
Inglewood’s attack was led by the skilful Liam Marciano on three as Kai Cavallaro and Seb Erharter booted two majors.
Best for Bridgewater were midfielder Luke Ellings, Xavier Walsh, Jack Neylon, Alex Powell, Oliver Watt and Joseph Mayes.
Thomas Kennedy, Luke Matheson, Bregon Cotchett, Liam Marciano, Gabe Nevins and Cody Stobaus were best for the Blues.
Round three kicked off with the Anzac Day match between Maiden Gully YCW and Newbride played under lights at Marist College Oval in Maiden Gully.
The Eagles dominated the opening term to score 3.6 as the Maroons were on a point at the first break.
Newbridge hit back to win the second term, 14-1.
An Eagles line-up coached by Shawn Filo, non-playing, and Angus Monfries, playing, held a three-goal buffer going into the last quarter.
Maiden Gully YCW scored another two goals in the last as Newbridge added a major.
Josiah Farrer led the Eagles attack on three goals as Monfries who had played in several Anzac Day contests for Essendon finished with two goals in the wet conditions at Maiden Gully.
Newbridge’s leading goalkicker was Billy Schilling on two.
Best for the Eagles were Josiah Farrer, Grayson Brown, Lewis Pigdon, Mitch Whitham, Mitch Hill and Daniel Russell.
Caleb Argus, Connor Sheppard, Kobe Friswell, Will Copland, Jack Teasdale and Andrew Padbury were best for the Matt McArthur-coached Newbridge.
On Saturday, Pyramid Hill scored a 98-point win against Mitiamo on the Bulldogs’ ground at Mitchell Park.
Pyramid Hill led 57-21 at half-time and then scored 7.5 as it held the Superoos to a tally of 1.2 in the third term.
Ben Bissett and Archie Hildebrandt capped off plenty of Pyramid Hill’s moves with four and three goals in a 131-33 result.
Other multiple goalkickers for the red, white and blue were Mitch Cheesman, Kai Daniels, Mitch Dingwall, Steven Gunther and Ryan Semmel on two.
There were four goalkickers for Mitiamo.
Best for the Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill were athletic ruckman Kai Daniels, Archie Hildebrandt, Ryan Semmel, Bailey George, Steven Gunther and Ben Bisset.
Zach Morrison, Liam Shiell, Ryan Duncan, coach Luke Lougoon, Anthony Huismann and Brayden Baines were best for the Superoos.
Calivil United faced a daunting task at home against Marong.
The Demons were within three goals at quarter-time before the powerful Panthers line-up scored 7.4 to a goal in the second term.
Marong won the second half, 70-13, to complete a 141-26 victory.
Matt Willox and Ryley Taylor kicked four and three goals.
The Panthers also had captain Nathan Devanny, Jacob Ede, Lachlan Lee and Jack McCaig chip in with two goals each.
Henry McCarthy led the Demons’ attack on two goals.
Marong’s best were Lachlan Lee, Jai Gretgrix, Jack McCaig, Ryley Taylor, Jacob Ede and Richard Tibbett.
Best for the Sam Maher-coached Calivil United were Riley Walsh, Henry McCarthy, Jayden Leach, Cody Thompson, Will Hamilton and Ronan Sheehan.
Panthers’ co-coach Kain Robins was on the sidelines with non-playing coach Paul Thomson for this contest.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine had the bye.
Highlight of next Saturday’s fourth round will be the Bridgewater and Marong clash on the Mean Machine’s turf in Bridgewater from 2.15pm.
Mitiamo takes on Maiden Gully YCW Eagles at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval.
Newbridge and Inglewood will be aiming to break a winless run when they meet at Newbridge’s Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine faces Pyramid Hill in another big match at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Calivil United has the bye.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Marong 206 per cent, 12 points; Bridgewater 141, 12; Pyramid Hill 154, 8; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 89, 6; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 84, 4; Mitiamo 54, 4; Calivil United 55, 2; Inglewood 90, 0; Newbridge 53, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
20 Lachlan Sharp, Bridgewater.
13 Ben Bisset, Pyramid Hill.
12 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
11 Seb Erharter, Inglewood.
8 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
6 Tyler James, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
5 Kai Cavallaro, Inglewood.
5 Luke Crawford, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
5 Jacob Ede, Marong.
5 Mitch Langan, Pyramid Hill.
5 Kain Robins, Marong.
5 Billy Schilling, Newbridge.
5 Oliver Watt, Bridgewater.
5 Matt Willox, Marong.
4 Brayden Baines, Mitiamo.
4 Mitch Cheesman, Pyramid Hill.
4 Ed Crisp, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
4 Todd Delahey, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
4 Luke Ellings, Bridgewater.
4 Jake Lawry, Calivil United.
4 Liam Marciano, Inglewood.
4 Gabe Nevins, Inglewood.
4 Farran Priest, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
4 Liam Stephens, Calivil United.
3 Mitch Dingwall, Pyramid Hill.
3 Josiah Farrer, Maiden Gully YCW.
3 Harrison Goodes, Pyramid Hill.
3 Archie Hildebrandt, Pyramid Hill.
3 Ben Knight, Pyramid Hill.
3 Jack McCaig, Marong.
3 Ryan Semmel, Pyramid Hill.