Mitiamo’s superb form rolls on in netball action
MITIAMO’S run toward back-to-back A-grade premierships in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley Football Netball League is gathering pace.
The Superoos completed the home-and-away series by scoring a 52-44 victory in Saturday’s round 18 clash on Bridgewater’s court.
It was a danger game for the Laura Hicks-coached Mitiamo as Bridgewater finished within nine goals of the ladder-leading Maiden Gully YCW the previous round.
The Superoos gained a break in the second term and then worked hard to hold its advantage.
Best for Mitiamo in its 10th win of the season were goalkeeper Abbey Battersby, midcourter Amelia Ludeman, and Carly Scholes in attack.
Claudia Collins played the first half at goal defence for Bridgewater and then switched to goal attack for the second half.
The Superoos start another finals campaign on Saturday in a qualifying final showdown with Marong on the Panthers’ court at Marong’s Malone Park.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles soared past the century mark in the clash with Bears Lagoon Serpentine at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Eagles’ mid-courter Leisa Barry played her 200th match for the club in a 103-21 victory and will play a key role in the team’s bid for premiership success.
Calivil United warmed up for an elimination final by scoring a four-goal win at home against Newbridge.
The Demons led by 10 goals going into the final term, but Newbridge fought back strongly in what was its last quarter of the season.
Calivil United won a top contest, 49-45, and will now prepare to take on Bridgewater in Sunday’s elimination final at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval.
It was season over for Pyramid Hill in A-grade because it was drawn to play Inglewood, but the Bulldogs did take on the Blues in the lower grades at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
Final standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 166 per cent, 60 points; Mitiamo 126, 50; Marong 127, 48; Calivil United 119, 46; Brdigewater 103, 32; Newbridge 86, 24; Pyramid Hill 70, 20; Bears Lagoon Serpentine 41, 8.
Finals action starts this Saturday at Marong’s Malone Park when qualifying finals will be played.
Mitiamo and Marong meet in the A-grade contest from 3pm.
The winner advances to the second semi-final against Maiden Gully YCW on August 27 at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Teams will vie to avoid being knocked out of the premiership chase when they line up in Sunday’s elimination finals at John Forbes Oval in Mitiamo.
The A-grade showdown between Calivil United and Bridgewater starts at 3pm.
There will be eight clubs represented across the first weekend of the league’s finals series.
Minor premiers were Maiden Gull y YCW Eagles, A-grade; Newbridge, B-grade; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles, C-grade; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles, C-reserve; Newbridge, 17-under; Marong, 15-under; Marong, 13-under.
Schedule for Saturday’s qualifying finals at Malone Park, Marong:
15-under at 10.30am: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles v Pyramid Hill.
13-under at noon: Pyramid Hill v Mitiamo.
17-under at noon: Maiden Gully YCW Eagles v Calivil United.
B-grade at 1.30pm: Bridgewater v Maiden Gully YCW.
C-reserve at 1.30pm: Marong v Newbridge.
C-grade at 3pm: Marong v Bridgewater.
A-grade at 3pm: Mitiamo v Marong.
Draw for Sunday’s elimination finals at John Forbes Oval in Mitiamo.
15-under at 10.30am: Calivil United v Bears Lagoon Serpentine.
13-under at noon: Bears Lagoon Serpentine v Calivil United.
17-under at noon: Bridgewater v Bears Lagoon Serpentine.
B-grade at 1.30pm: Marong v Pyramid Hill.
C-reserve at 1.30pm: Bridgewater v Calivil United.
C-grade at 3pm: Bears Lagoon Serpentine v Calivil United.
A-grade at 3pm: Calivil United v Bridgewater.
Written by Nathan Dole.
