-By Nathan Dole
THE heat from the Calivil United Demons overwhelmed Bears-Lagoon Serpentine in Saturday’s ninth round of A-grade netball across the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL competition.
In a thrilling finish it was Calivil United which claimed a 48-45 victory at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
The Cindy Portwine-coached Demons celebrated their second win of the season and in doing so moved within four points of the sixth-placed BLS line-up.
The upset has raised the pressure on the Danielle O’Toole and Lara Clements-coached Bears leading into next Saturday’s match at home against Bridgewater.
A big match as the league hit the halfway mark of the home and away series on Saturday was at Bridgewater where the Mean Machine took on the ladder-leading Mitiamo.
The Caz Wood and Olivia Hoiles-coached Bridgewater worked hard to keep the heat on, but the reigning premier netted a 48-40 victory.
Coached by Abbey Battersby and Jess Kaur, Mitiamo has shown it’s going to be tough to stop in its run at back-to-back premierships.
Marong took on Newbridge at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
It was the Selina Holland and Kristy Gandy-coached Newbridge which beat the Panthers by 10 goals.
A 40-30 victory meant the Maroons held third place and moved two wins clear of the fourth-placed Bridgewater.
The Bridget Willox-coached Marong will be back home next Saturday to play Inglewood.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles faced the in-form Pyramid Hill at Maiden Gully’s Marist College Oval.
The Leisa Barry-coached Eagles were up against a slick-moving opponent which charged to a 70-39 victory.
Pyramid Hill is jointly coached by Chelsea Emmerson, Simone Edgley and Laura Herbert.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Mitiamo 165 per cent, 32 points; Pyramid Hill 145, 28; Newbridge 131, 24; Bridgewater 131, 16; Marong 101, 16; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 90, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 75, 8; Calivil United 67, 8; Inglewood 41, 0.
In next Saturday’s 10th round, Pyramid Hill will be home at Mitchell Park against Newbridge.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles face Calivil United at Marist College Oval.
Marong hosts Inglewood at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine faces Bridgewater at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Mitiamo has the bye.
Round nine scoreboard:
A-reserve:
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 31 lt Calivil United 52, Bridgewater 47 d Mitiamo 43, Marong 38 d Newbridge 30, Maiden Gully YCW 37 lt Pyramid Hill 60, Inglewood bye.
B-grade:
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 30 d Calivil United 15, Bridgewater 42 d Mitiamo 13, Marong 31 d Newbridge 30, Maiden Gully YCW 42 dr Pyramid Hill 42, Inglewood bye.
B-reserve:
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 37 lt Calivil United 40, Bridgewater 48 d Mitiamo 14, Marong 35 lt Newbridge 47, Maiden Gully YCW 35 lt Pyramid Hill 39, Inglewood bye.
17-and-under:
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 31 lt Calivil United 63, Bridgewater 74 d Mitiamo 23, Marong 46 d Newbridge 21, Maiden Gully YCW 55 d Pyramid Hill 34, Inglewood bye.
15-and-under:
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 17 lt Calivil United 56, Bridgewater 52 d Mitiamo 17, Marong 59 d Newbridge 10, Maiden Gully YCW 24 dr Pyramid Hill 24, Inglewood bye.
13-and-under:
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 15 lt Calivil United 23, Bridgewater 38 d Mitiamo 11, Marong 15 lt Newbridge 32, Maiden Gully YCW 30 d Pyramid Hill 23, Inglewood bye.
Loddon Valley FNL netball ladders after nine rounds:
A-reserve:
Bridgewater 123 per cent, 28 points; Pyramid Hill 132, 26; Marong 140, 24; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 113, 20; Mitiamo 113, 18; Newbridge 115, 14; Calivil United 100, 10; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 58, 4; Inglewood 43, 0.
B-grade:
Bridgewater 181 per cent, 32 points; Marong 133, 28; Newbridge 127, 24; Pyramid Hill 118, 18; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 101, 18; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 95, 12; Inglewood 68, 4; Mitiamo 67, 4; Calivil United 63, 4.
B-reserve:
Bridgewater 155 per cent, 32 points; Pyramid Hill 147, 28; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 141, 24; Newbridge 109, 20; Marong 116, 12; Inglewood 96, 12; Calivil United 85, 12; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 55, 4; Mitiamo 46, 0.
17-and-under:
Bridgewater 213 per cent, 28 points; Calivil United 166, 28; Marong 158, 24; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 149, 24; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 77, 16; Pyramid Hill 66, 12; Mitiamo 68, 8; Inglewood 52, 4; Newbridge 47, 0.
15-and-under:
Calivil United 356 per cent, 32 points; Marong 208, 28; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 121, 24; Bridgewater 132, 20; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 96, 14; Inglewood 66, 12; Pyramid Hill 80, 10; Mitiamo 38, 4; Newbridge 36, 0.
13-and-under:
Newbridge 421 per cent, 32 points; Marong 154, 24; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 130, 24; Calivil United 131, 16; Pyramid Hill 69, 16; Inglewood 80, 12; Bridgewater 84, 8; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 52, 8; Mitiamo 28, 4.