THERE’S a great cross-section of clubs on court in this weekend’s start to Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL netball finals.
Action begins with Saturday’s qualifying finals at Marist College Oval in Maiden Gully and rolls into Sunday’s elimination finals at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval.
In the A-grade action, Pyramid Hill and Newbridge meet in the qualifying final at 3pm.
The Maroons and Bulldogs met in round one at Deepcore Drilling Oval in Newbridge’s Riverside Park.
A Pyramid Hill team coached by Chelsea Emmerson, Simone Edgley and Laura Herbert scored a 51-44 victory.
It was a terrific contest when these teams met again in round 10 at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
The red, white and blue fought on for a 42-40 win against the Selina Holland and Kirsty Gandy-coached Newbridge.
Pyramid Hill’s only defeats across the home-and-away series were to unbeaten reigning premier, Mitiamo.
Winner of Saturday’s match will face the Abbey Battersby and Jess Kaur-coached Mitiamo in the second semi-final on August 23 at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
On Sunday it will be Bridgewater and Marong fighting to stay in the A-grade premiership race.
The Mean Machine and Panthers will contest the elimination final on Mitiamo’s court.
First meeting this campaign was in round four where Bridgewater dominated at home to score a 67-42 victory.
At that stage the Caz Wood and Olivia Hoiles-coached Bridgewater was on a three-one record.
Next time these teams met was in round 13 on Marong’s court at Jackal Oval in Malone Park.
The Bridget Willox-coached Panthers clawed their way to a 54-52 victory.
As Bridgewater ended the home-and-away season with a 9-7 record, Marong was on 8-8.
Final standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Mitiamo 170 per cent, 64 points; Pyramid Hill 159, 56; Newbridge 124, 44; Bridgewater 131, 36; Marong 108, 32; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 100, 28; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 61, 16; Calivil United 69, 12; Inglewood 39, 0.
Fans can expect many closely-fought matches across the weekend.
In A-reserve, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles take on Marong in the qualifying final.
In round seven, Marong marked a 50-37 win at home against the Eagles.
The 16th round showdown ended in a 44-all draw at Marist College Oval.
It’s where they meet again this Saturday.
Bridgewater awaits the winner in the second semi-final.
The A-reserve elimination final features Pyramid Hill and Newbridge.
It was 43-all when they met in round one at Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval in Newbridge.
Just two goals separated them in round 10 as Newbridge won 36-34 at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
In B-grade, Marong and Newbridge will clash in the qualifying final.
When they met in round nine it was Marong which beat the Maroons, 31-30 at Malone Park.
They met again last Saturday at Riverside Oval.
This time the Panthers won 59-31.
The winner will meet Bridgewater, 15-1, in the second semi-final.
On Sunday it will be Pyramid Hill and Maiden Gully YCW Eagles in the elimination final.
Scores were locked on 42-all in the round nine match at Marist College in Maiden Gully.
In last Saturday’s final round it was Pyramid Hill which won 42-30 on its court at Mitchell Park.
It’s the Bulldogs against the Eagles as Pyramid Hill and Maiden Gully YCW Eagles contest the B-reserve qualifying final.
The Hill’s line-up has won both showdowns by four and six goals.
The winner will face Bridgewater in the second semi.
Newbridge and Marong meet in the B-reserve elimination final.
In round nine, Newbridge’s won 47-35 in the Panthers’ den.
They clashed in last Saturday’s 18th round which went Marong’s way, 49-42 at Riverside Park.
In the 17-and-under competition, Bridgewater faces Maiden Gully YCW Eagles in the qualifying final.
When they met in round two, Bridgewater won 46-28 on Maiden Gully YCW’s court.
The round 11 showdown ended in a 43-38 win for the Mean Machine.
Race to be on top of the 17-and-under ladder was won by Calivil United on a 15-1 record.
Sunday’s elimination final features Marong and Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
In round five, Marong beat the Bears by 12 goals at Malone Park.
The Panthers dominated the round 14 match in Serpentine to win by 19 goals.
Marong and Bridgewater will meet in the 15-and-under qualifying final.
They met in round four where Marong won 42-25 on Bridgewater’s court.
Margin when they met in the 13th round was a goal as Bridgewater won 27-26 in the Panthers’ den at Malone Park.
Winner of Saturday’s match will face the unbeaten Calivil United in the second semi-final.
It’s the Bears and Eagles in Sunday’s elimination final as Bears-Lagoon Serpentine takes on Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
The Bears won 37-31 on the Eagles’ court in round six.
Maiden Gully YCW marked a 12-goal win in the Bears’ den in the 15th round.
The Eagles will face Calivil United in the 13-and-under qualifying final.
They met in the season opener on April 5 in which the Eagles soared to a 36-23 win on Calivil’s court.
In the 10th round the Demons fired up for a 40-26 win at Marist College.
Huge test will follow for the Demons or Eagles against the unbeaten Newbridge in the second semi-final.
Marong and Pyramid Hill will contest the elimination final.