-By Nathan Dole
PYRAMID Hill unleashed a brilliant final quarter as it beat Bridgwater by 41 points in Saturday’s fifth round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
The Bulldogs were down 86-90 going into the last quarter of the clash at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
As ruckman Lachlan Sidebottom took charge at centre ball-ups the Bulldogs kept pumping the ball into the forward 50m arc.
Pyramid Hill slammed on 8.6 and kept Bridgewater to a tally of 1.3 in the last term.
At the final siren the Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill led 140-99.
Zach Alford and Ben Bisset led the attack on five goals each as Ryan Semmel kicked three.
Other multiple goalkickers for the red, white and blue were Xavier Emmerson and Harrison Goodes with two.
Bridgewater coach Lachie Sharp finished with a match-high seven goals as Oscar McKinley capped a fine game with three.
Best for Pyramid Hill were Brodie Carroll, Zach Alford, Archie Hildebrandt, Bailey George, Ben Bisset and Levi Moss.
Darcy Ferguson, Jack Neylon, Oscar McKinley, Alex Powell, Jack Symons and Joseph Mayes were Bridgewater’s best.
Marong’s unbeaten run kept rolling.
The Panthers opened up a five-goal lead by half-time of the clash with Bears-Lagoon Serpentine at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
Led by the play of Noah and Jack McCaig, and Ryley Taylor, Marong kicked on to a 120-80 victory.
The Panthers had Ryley Taylor finish on a match-high six goals as Noah McCaig kicked four.
Other multiple goalkickers for the reigning premier were captain Nathan Devanny, Patrick Gretgrix and Jack McCaig on two.
Leading goalkickers for the Bears were Nathan Twigg and Jarrod Starr on three and two.
Matt Willox, Jimmy Gadsden and David Johnstone played well for a Panthers team jointly coache by Kain Robins, playing, and Paul Thomson, non-playing.
Jaxon Addlem, Doolan Nihill, Jeremy Hancock, Nathan Twigg and Andy Gladman were best for the Jake Wilkinson-coached Bears.
Newbridge celebrated its first victory of the season as it outplayed Calivil United in the Demons’ den at Calivil.
The Matt McArthur-coached Maroons led 29-26 at quarter-time and then scored 4.3 as it kept the Demons to a tally of 1.2 in the second.
A 22-point buffer at half-time was four goals at a quarter to play.
Caleb Sanders, Jed Zimmer and Sam Gale all played key roles as Newbridge dominated the final term.
The Maroons added 5.3 in the last to complete a 100-56 victory.
The in-form Billy Schilling led Newbride’s attack on six goals as Chris Dixon and Jed Zimmer kicked four.
Calivil United’s leading goalkickers were Henry McCarthy and Todd Gallagher on three and two.
Best for Newbridge included Tyler Constable, Thomas Hobson and Kobe Friswell.
Sam Green, Ronan Sheehan, Tommi Raukola, Will Hamilton, Henry McCarthy and coach Sam Maher were Calivil United’s best.
Inglewood dominated after quarter-time in its clash with Mitiamo at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
An evenly-fought first term ended with Inglewood in front, 26-20.
The Fergus Payne-coached Blues then scored 4.3 and kept Mitiamo to a tally of 1.2 in the second.
With Seb Erharter as a key focus in attack, Inglewood scored 12 goals in the second half and kept the Superoos to just three majors.
The in-form Erharter capped a brilliant match with nine goals as Daniel Polack added three.
Other multiple goalkickers for the Blues were Bregon Cotchett, Lachlan Ford and Liam Marciano with two each.
Mitiamo’s attack was led by Brayden Baines and coach Luke Lougoon with two.
Best for Inglewood were Bregon Cotchett, Harry Veitch, Seb Erharter, Luke Matheson, Daniel Polack and Tom Kennedy.
Mitiamo’s best were Luke Lougoon, Zach Morrison, Matt Gilmour, Seth Wright, Waylon Draper and Kia Coatsworth.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles had the bye.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Marong 186 per cent, 20 points; Pyramid Hill 153, 16; Bridgewater 99, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 96, 10; Inglewood 141, 8; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 73, 4; Newbridge 69, 4; Mitiamo 56, 4; Calivil United 53, 2.
In next Saturday’s sixth round, Pyramid Hill takes on Inglewood at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park from 2.15pm.
It’s fourth against sixth as Maiden Gully YCW Eagles meet Bears-Lagoon Serpentine at Marist College Oval in Maiden Gully.
Bridgewater will be on home turf against Calivil United.
Mitiamo tackles Newbridge at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval.
Marong has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
29 Lachie Sharp, Bridgewater.
27 Seb Erharter, Inglewood.
21 Ben Bisset, Pyramid Hill.
20 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
14 Billy Schilling, Newbridge.
12 Liam Marciano, Inglewood.
11 Oscar McKinley, Bridgewater.
11 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
11 Brayden Baines, Mitiamo.
11 Tyler James, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
7 Zach Alford, Pyramid Hill.
7 Luke Crawford, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
7 Nathan Devanny, Marong.
7 Daniel Polack, Inglewood.
7 Kain Robins, Marong.