Bridgewater eliminates Bears from Valley’s premiership race
BRIDGEWATER put Bears Lagoon Serpentine out of the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley Football Netball League’s senior footy premiership race on Sunday.
The Mean Machine was down 13-28 at quarter-time of the clash at John Forbes Oval in Mitiamo, but struck back to win the second term, 7.3 to 2.0, to lead by 18 points at the long break.
Led by the play of Lachlan Allison, Harry Donegan and Callum Prest it was Bridgewater which dominated the final hour.
The Mean Machine scored 5.9 as the Bears added just two points in the second half.
At the final siren, Bridgewater led 97-42.
Bridgewater’s attack was led by Nic Hall, Josh Martyn and Emile Pavlich on three goals apiece.
Ryan Prendergast put in a superb effort for the Bears to kick a match-high five goals.
The Mean Machine’s best included ruckman Cameron Ross, Emile Pavlich and Alex Pollock.
Best for the Justin Laird-coached Bears were Jeremy Hancock, Beau Roy-Clements, Zach Stone, Darcy Poulter, Josh Walsh and Harry Gadsden.
The Rick Ladson-coached Bridgewater went into the match without former Richmond and Carlton player Andy Collins who has starred in an-ball role or closer to goal this season.
First of the senior finals was Saturday’s qualifying final between Pyramid Hill and Mitiamo at Marong’s Malone Park.
The Marcus McKern-coached Superoos jumped to a 30-28 lead by quarter-time, but Pyramid Hill hit back to win the second term, 5.4 to 3.1.
It was a Bulldogs blitz in the third as the Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill slammed on 7.2 to 1.2 to put the result beyond doubt.
An evenly contested final quarter was won by the Bulldogs, 21-19, as they marked a 127-77 victory.
The in-form Dylan Collis kicked four goals for Pyramid Hill as Bailey George, captain Steven Gunther, Will Perryman and Seb Relouw added three each.
Mitiamo’s attack was led by Jay Reynolds, four goals; Harry McCormick, three; and Daniel Mowat, two.
Best for the Bulldogs were Zac Dingwall, Ryley Dickens, Dylan Collis, Adrian Holland, Ben Dalton and Bryden Morison.
Lee Dale, Tom Grant, Daniel Mowat, Ross Turner, Nathan Twigg and Doug Thomas worked hard for the Superoos.
In the reserves competition, Pyramid Hill scored a 52-point win against Bridgewater in Saturday’s qualifying final.
The Bulldogs led 21-nil at quarter-time and added 3.3 to 2.0 in the second term.
Rowan Pollock kicked four goals as Nick Skinner booted three and Jordan Simpson scored two majors in a 76-24 victory by the red, white and blue.
Goalkickers for Bridgewater were Jeremy Campbell, two, and Tom McKinley.
Pyramid Hill’s best were Mitchell Dingwall, Matthew Moon, Glen James, Jack Hickmott, Luke Padgham and Micheal Bateman.
Jack McKinley, Jackson Brown, Jay Bowen, Ben Derrick, Jeremy Campbell and Oliver Muggleton worked hard for Bridgewater.
The Mean Machine will now tackle Newbridge in a first semi-final after the Maroons marked a 49-point win in the elimination final showdown with Bears Lagoon Serpentine.
Newbridge led 37-14 at half-time and kicked on for a 72-23 result.
Nicholas Gray led the way on three goals as Jirah Dawkins and Hugh McGillivray were the other multiple goalkickers on two.
Bears’ captain Jayden Gladman kicked two goals.
Best for Newbridge were Hugh McGillivray, Thomas Hobson, Keelan Bertuch, Nicholas Gray, Brad Wilson and Jirah Dawkins.
Matthew Quinn, Abe Addlem, Mitchell Turvey, Anthony Brown, Dane Stone and Cameron Krahe were best for the Bears.
The under-18s finals began with the first semi between East Loddon and Inglewood on Saturday at Marong.
Inglewood led 27-14 at quarter-time and then scored 4.3 to 2.1 in the second term.
It was all the Blues in the second half as they scored 5.4 to 1.1 in the third and 5.4 to a goal in the last to complete a 122-40 victory.
Gabe Nevins was in superb form with six goals for Inglewood as Mitchell Jeffrey added five, and Tyler Murphy and Isaac Willits chipped in with two each.
East Loddon’s attack was led by Jaxon Addlem on three goals and Mason Hocking with two.
Best for the Blues were Isaac Willits, Gabe Nevins, Jaspa Wendels, Seth Hoskin, Lachlan Harris and Mitchell Jeffrey.
Jaxon Addlem, Joshua Diss, Tyler and Jye Rasmussen, Fynn Como and Samuel Hicks worked hard for East Loddon.
Second semi-finals will be played this Saturday at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Marong takes on Pyramid Hill in the senior footy match from 2.15pm.
The Panthers from Marong feature in the reserves clash with Pyramid Hill at 12.30pm.
The first semi-finals will be played on Sunday at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
Mitiamo takes on Bridgewater in the senior footy match at 2.15pm.
It’s a showdown between Bridgewater and Newbridge from 12.30pm in the reserves.
Marong or Bridgewater will be first to the under-18s grand final after they meet in the second semi-final from 10.40am next Saturday at Serpentine.
Victorious in last Saturday’s first semi-final, Inglewood will wait to play the Panthers or Mean Machine in the September 3 preliminary final at Holloway Air Riverside Oval in Newbridge.
Written by Nathan Dole.
