THE heat will be on from the first pass of the A-grade netball showdown between Mitiamo and Bridgewater in Saturday’s ninth round of the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley Football Netball League season.
It’s fourth against fifth as Mitiamo hosts the Mean Machine at John Forbes Oval.
Refreshed by the bye, the Laura Hicks-coached Mitiamo will be desperate to take the points and move six points clear of Bridgewater.
The Superoos’ best performance of the season was the draw in round three at home against Marong.
Bridgewater will be keen to bounce back from a 14-goal loss at home to the in-form Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
The Machine has a win-loss tally of 3-3.
Newbridge takes on Calivil United at Holloway Air Riverside Oval in Newbridge.
The Maroons fired up in the final term at Mitchell Park in Pyramid Hill to score a 32-24 victory.
Morgan McCormick and Abby Rowley were Newbridge’s best.
It will not be an easy task for the Maroons against a Calivil United line-up which broke Marong’s unbeaten run in a 43-40 victory.
A talented Demons’ line-up-which is jointly coached by Karen Pascoe and Teigan Redwood includes Michelle Balic, Mia McCrann-Peters, Jasmine Condliffe, Lily Buckingham, and the experience and skill of Jarileey Scholtes in mid-court.
Maiden Gully YCW will be back on the court at Marist College Oval to take on Bears Lagoon Serpentine.
Best in the Eagles’ win at Bridgewater included Leisa Barry, Meg Patterson and Tia Webb.
The Christie Griffiths-coached Eagles should have too much skill through mid-court for the Bears to stop across four quarters.
The Bears return to the court after a rest last Saturday because Inglewood is not fielding an A-grade team.
It’s a rest for Pyramid Hill in A-grade this round, but the Bulldogs will play Inglewood in the lower grades on the Blues’ court at Dissy Machinery Oval.
Marong has the bye this round.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Marong 136 per cent, 26 points; Maiden Gully YCW 142, 24; Calivil United 123, 24; Mitiamo 125, 18; Bridgewater 106, 16; Newbridge 80, 12; Pyramid Hill 57, 4; Bears Lagoon Serpentine 54, 4; Inglewood 0, 0.
Written by Nathan Dole.