INGLEWOOD’S hot form kept rolling as it put Pyramid Hill out of the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL’s senior footy premiership race on Sunday.
The Blues and Bulldogs contested the first semi-final at Jackal Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
On the rebound from a qualifying final defeat, Pyramid Hill started strongly and led 33-21 by quarter-time of its showdown with the Blues.
In the second it was the Fergus Payne-coached Inglewood which won a lot of the play through midfield and in on-ball contests.
As Inglewood scored 3.4 it kept the Bulldogs to a tally of 1.3.
By half-time Inglewood led a great match, 43-42.
Quarter three went the way of the Blues, 31-23.
Inspired by the play of Bregon Cotchett, Harry Veitch and Fergus Payne it was Inglewood which dominated most of the final term.
The Blues scored six goals and kept Pyramid Hill to a solitary major.
By the final siren Inglewood’s players and fans were celebrating a 113-71 victory.
Liam Marciano and Seb Erharter led the Blues’ attack on four and three goals.
Kai Cavallaro, Bregon Cotchett and Fergus Payne added two each as Tynan Hywood, Callum March, Keelan Payne and Harry Veitch were also on target.
Leading goalkicker for Pyramid Hill was Ryan Semmel on four as Kai Daniels booted two.
Other goalkickers for the red, white and blue were Zach Alford, Ben Bisset, Brodie Carroll and Ben Knight.
Best for Inglewood included Kai Cavallaro, Jackson Hood and Liam Marciano.
Brodie Carroll, Lachlan Sidebottom, Levi Moss, Jess Budarick, Scott Mann and Kai Daniels were best for the Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill.
On Saturday it was Bridgewater which was first to the September 6 grand final after it won a dramatic second semi-final against Marong.
The Mean Machine and Panthers clashed at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Bridgewater led 25-21 at quarter-time before Marong dominated most of term two.
By half-time the Kain Robins and Paul Thomson-coached Marong led 55-39.
Bridgewater fought back to be within eight points going into the final term.
As the Mean Machine scored 5.4 in the third the Panthers added 4.2.
In the last it was Bridgewater which scored three unanswered goals.
Marong had its chances, but added just three behinds.
At the final siren the Lachie Sharp-coached Bridgewater was up 92-84 against a club striving for its fourth senior premiership in a row.
Sharp led Bridgewater’s attack on five goals as Oscar McKinley and Nic Naughton added three and two majors.
Other goalkickers for the Mean Machine were Jacob Ellings, Tyler Estrada, Harry McKinley and Josh Roberts.
Kain Robins kicked a match-high seven goals for Marong which included his 50th of the season.
The Panthers also had Michael Bradbury, Nathan Devanny, Ben Gregg, Shaun Knott and Ryley Taylor on target.
Bridgewater’s best were Lachie Sharp, Alex Powell, Joseph Mayes, Luke Ellings, Darcy Ferguson and Ben Derrick.
Marong’s best were Matt Willox, Noah McCaig, Kain Robins, Nathan Devanny and Jai Gretgrix.
In the reserves competition, Marong’s unbeaten run kept rolling.
The Panthers marked a 57-15 victory in the second semi-final clash with Bridgewater.
On Sunday it was Bears-Lagoon Serpentine which won 69-49 against Inglewood in the first semi-final.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles flew into the under-18s grand final as it beat Marong in the second semi-final by 15 points.
The Eagles led 49-47 going into the final term and by the siren was up 76-61.
Inglewood won a closely-fought first semi-final against East Loddon.
The Blues led 33-25 at half-time and 48-43 by three quarter-time.
Inglewood scored three goals in the last as East Loddon added two.
At the final siren the Blues were up 67-58.
Schedule for Saturday’s preliminary finals at Calivil Recreation Reserve:
Under-18s at 10.40am: Marong v Inglewood.
Reserves at 12.30pm: Bridgewater v Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
Seniors at 2.15pm: Marong v Inglewood.
Leaders in the Loddon Valley FNL senior goalkicking:
119 Lachie Sharp, Bridgewater.
98 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
74 Ben Bisset, Pyramid Hill.
65 Seb Erharter, Inglewood.
51 Kain Robins, Marong.
46 Oscar McKinley, Bridgewater.
43 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
41 Billy Schilling, Newbridge.
35 Tyler James, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
32 Michael Bradbury, Marong.
30 Harrison Goodes, Pyramid Hill.
30 Henry McCarthy, Calivil United.
29 Ryan Semmel, Pyramid Hill.
26 Kai Cavallaro, Inglewood.
26 Liam Marciano, Inglewood.
24 Zach Alford, Pyramid Hill.
24 Bregon Cotchett, Inglewood.
24 Farran Priest, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
21 Boden Alexander, Bridgewater.
20 Brayden Baines, Mitiamo.
20 Nic Naughton, Bridgewater.
19 Kobe Galvin, Mitiamo.
19 Ben Knight, Pyramid Hill.
18 Oliver Watt, Bridgewater.
17 Todd Delahey, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
17 Justin Laird, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
17 Angus Monfries, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
16 Seth Wright, Mitiamo.
15 Kai Daniels, Pyramid Hill.
15 Luke Ellings, Bridgewater.