Superoos hop to another A-grade netball grand final
MITIAMO played inspired netball to win Saturday’s second semi-final against Maiden Gully YCW Eagles on day three of the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley Football Netball League’s finals series.
The Superoos and Eagles took to the court at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
The big prize was to be first to the grand final to be played on September 10 at Marist College Bendigo in Maiden Gully.
Unbeaten since a 42-46 loss at home to Marong in round one, Maiden Gully YCW was on a 13-game winning streak.
The Eagles’ run included a 67-54 result at home against Mitiamo in the seventh round, and 58-47 win on the Superoos’ court at John Forbes Oval in the 16th round.
But it was the Laura Hicks-coached Mitiamo which followed up its qualifying final win against Marong to score a 59-45 victory against the Eagles in the preliminary final and take another big step toward premiership glory.
The Christie Griffiths Eagles had their wings clipped, but have a chance to make it through to the decider by winning next Saturday’s preliminary final at Holloway Air Riverside Oval in Newbridge.
It was a thrilling finish to the B-grade second semi-final between Newbridge and Bridgewater.
At the final siren, Bridgewater led 44-43.
A week earlier and the Mean Machine had beaten Maiden Gully YCW by 16 goals in the qualifying final.
Newbridge had won the previous two meetings with Bridgewater by margins of 13 goals at home, and five, away.
It was a dramatic finish to the C-grade second semi between Maiden Gully YCW and Bridgewater.
The Eagles fought on for a 43-41 victory.
A week earlier and Bridgewater beat Marong in the qualifying final by a goal.
It was a one-goal margin in the C-reserve second semi between Maiden Gully YCW and Marong.
The Eagles finished the home and away series on top of the ladder and were up against a team which had won its qualifying final clash with Newbridge by two goals.
A 42-41 win put the Eagles through to the grand final.
Maiden Gully YCW is through to the 17-and-under grand final after a 47-31 win against Newbridge in the second semi.
The Eagles began the finals with a 13-goal victory against Calivil United in the qualifying final as Newbridge, which was top of the ladder, had a week’s rest.
Marong played brilliant netball to win the 15-and-under second semi-final against Pyramid Hill.
The Panthers ran away for a 48-29 victory against the Bulldogs.
It was a closely-fought contest between Marong and Pyramid Hill in the 13-and-under second semi-final.
The Panthers won 26-22 against a Bulldogs’ line-up which had claimed a 23-21 win against Mitiamo in the qualifying final.
Written by Nathan Dole.
