-By Nathan Dole
A CRUCIAL match between Pyramid Hill and Bridgewater highlights this Saturday’s fifth round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
It’s third against second as Pyramid Hill hosts Bridgewater at Mitchell Park.
Two of this season’s best teams will do battle from 2pm.
The Bulldogs and Mean Machine take great form into this contest.
Pyramid Hill won last Saturday’s match on Bears-Lagoon Serpentine’s court by 20 goals as Bridgewater claimed a 25-goal win at home against Marong.
Runner-up last season, Pyramid Hill has had Chelsea Emmerson, Simone Edgley and Laura Herbert team up as coaches.
The Caz Wood and Olivia Hoiles-coached Bridgewater will be keen to mark another away win.
Another big match will be at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park where Marong takes on Bears-Lagoon Serpentine from 3pm.
Both teams are locked on eight premiership points, but Marong holds fifth place as it leads the Bears by five per cent.
The Bridget Willox-coached Marong will be determined to hit back from a 67-42 loss on Bridgewater’s court.
Bears’ co-coach Danielle O’Toole will play against her former club.
This season O’Toole has teamed up with Lara Clements to coach the BLS line-up.
After a bye, Calivil United will be back on its court to play Newbridge from 3pm at Calivil.
Massive test for the Cindy Portwine-coached Demons against the Maroons.
A Newbridge team coached by Selina Holland and Kristy Handy won its latest home game against Inglewood at Deepcore Drilling Oval in Riverside Park by 30 goals.
Focus is squarely on Saturday’s game, but Newbridge will want to play well rolling into a May 17 clash on Mitiamo’s court.
Unbeaten and on top of the ladder, Mitiamo makes its way to Centre State Scaffolding Oval in Inglewood to take on the Blues.
The Abbey Battersby and Jess Kaur-coached Mitiamo has plenty of skill through mid-court and attacking options.
Mitiamo is the only unbeaten team in the competition as Bridgewater and Pyramid Hill are locked on a win-loss tally of three-one.
Latest match for the Superoos was at Mitiamo where it beat the Leisa Barry-coached Maiden Gully YCW Eagles by 55 goals.
A young Inglewood team coached by Caitlin Cartwright will approach this match as another valuable learning experience.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles has the bye.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Mitiamo 192 per cent, 12 points; Bridgewater 165, 12; Pyramid Hill 112, 12; Newbridge 154, 8; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 110, 8; Marong 105, 8; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 61, 4; Calivil United 65, 0; Inglewood 36, 0.
League ladders:
A-reserve:
Bridgewater 138 per cent, 16 points; Marong 136, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 111, 12; Pyramid Hill 115, 10; Newbridge 129, 6; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 86, 4; Mitiamo 88, 2; Calivil United 86, 2; Inglewood 39, 0.
B-grade:
Bridgewater 164 per cent, 16 points; Newbridge 158, 12; Marong 134, 12; Pyramid Hill 118, 8; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 101, 8; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 84, 4; Calivil United 70, 4; Mitiamo 63, 0; Inglewood 59, 0.
B-reserve:
Pyramid Hill 156 per cent, 16 points; Bridgewater 137, 16; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 152, 12; Calivil United 103, 8; Marong 97, 4; Inglewood 96, 4; Newbridge 90, 4; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 46, 0; Mitiamo 44, 0.
17-and-under:
Bridgewater 193 per cent, 12 points; Marong 159, 12; Calivil United 133, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 157, 8; Pyramid Hill 86, 8; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 74, 8; Inglewood 56, 4; Mitiamo 57, 0; Newbridge 38, 0.
15-and-under:
Calivil United 270 per cent, 12 points; Marong 150, 12; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 139, 12; Pyramid Hill 124, 8; Bridgewater 110, 8; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 101, 8; Inglewood 61, 4; Newbridge 56, 0; Mitiamo 29, 0.
13-and-under:
Marong 189 per cent, 16 points; Newbridge 566, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 125, 12; Pyramid Hill 52, 8; Calivil United 132, 4; Bridgewater 94, 4; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 72, 4; Inglewood 60, 4; Mitiamo 18, 0.