BY NATHAN DOLE
Superoos bound to big victory at Marong
MITIAMO tipped off A-grade netball action by scoring a big victory in Saturday’s clash at Marong on day one of the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
The Jen Wilson-coached Mitiamo are determined to bounce back after consecutive grand final losses to Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
The Superoos have retained most of last season’s squad and made a strong start to the ’24 campaign on Marong’s court at Malone Park.
Mitiamo held a 10-goal buffer after it won the first quarter, 16-6.
From there the Robyn Cunnington-coached Marong kept working hard, but the Superoos slick passing from mid-court to the goal circle was tough to defend.
Mitiamo doubled the Panthers score to record a 76-38 victory.
Best for the Superoos were goalshooter Carly Scholes and wing attack Alicia Hay.
At Bridgewater it was Newbridge which took the points in a stunning result.
Jointly coached by Kristy Gandy and Selina Holland, Newbridge played superb netball to beat the hosts.
At the final whistle Newbridge led 37-26.
Key players for the maroon and white included Hayley Martiniello and Morgan McCormick.
Bears Lagoon-Serpentine worked hard to score 45 goals in its home game against Pyramid Hill.
It was a much improved performance by the Bears on the court at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Mid-court ace Danielle O’Toole has crossed from Marong to coach Bears Lagoon-Serpentine.
Pyramid Hill’s attack capped off the moves from mid-court and defence to pour in 60 goals in a confident start to the season.
The Bulldogs are being coached by Chelsea Emmerson and have the quality of Gemma Scott, Abbey Dingwall and Jess Holdstock on court.
A new-look Maiden Gully YCW Eagles were too strong for Calivil United at Maiden Gully’s Marist College Oval.
The Adam Boldiston-coached Eagles began their quest for a premiership hat-trick by scoring a 58-36 victory against the Demons.
Inglewood had the bye.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Mitiamo 200 per cent, 4 points; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 161, 4; Newbridge 142, 4; Pyramid Hill 133, 4; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 75, 0; Bridgewater 70, 0; Calivil United 62, 0; Marong 50, 0; Inglewood 0, 0.
In next Saturday’s second round, Newbridge plays Marong at Walker’s Doughnuts Riverside Oval in Newbridge.
Pyramid Hill takes on Calivil United at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
Inglewood marks its first match of the season by playing Bears Lagoon-Serpentine at Centre State Scaffolding in Inglewood.
It’s a night game between Maiden Gully YCW and Bridgewater at Marist College Oval in Maiden Gully.
Mitiamo has the bye.
Next hit-out for the Superoos will be the round three showdown with Maiden Gully YCW at John Forbes Oval in Mitiamo.
Round one scoreboard:
B-grade:
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 54 d Calivil United 42, Marong 65 d Mitiamo 45, Bridgewater 27 lt Newbridge 58, Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 25 lt Pyramid Hill 42, Inglewood bye.
C-grade:
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 61 d Calivil United 27, Marong 38 d Mitiamo 36, Bridgewater 32 lt Newbridge 36, Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 28 lt Pyramid Hill 52, Inglewood bye.
C-reserve:
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles v Calivil United, Marong 60 d Mitiamo 19, Bridgewater 30 lt Newbridge 38, Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 32 lt Pyramid Hill 44, Inglewood bye.
17-and-under:
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 49 d Calivil United 38, Marong v Mitiamo (forfeit), Bridgewater 76 d Newbridge 9, Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 30 lt Pyramid Hill 56, Inglewood bye.
15-and-under:
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 31 lt Calivil United 52, Marong 36 d Mitiamo 19, Bridgewater v Newbridge (forfeit) Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 27 d Pyramid Hill 14, Inglewood bye.
13-and-under:
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 34 d Calivil United 6, Marong 56 d Mitiamo 7, Bridgewater v Newbridge (forfeit), Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 15 d Pyramid Hill 7, Inglewood bye.
Loddon Valley FNL netball ladders:
B-grade:
Newbridge 214 per cent, 4 points; Pyramid Hill 168, 4; Marong 144, 4; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 128, 4; Calivil United 77, 0; Mitiamo 69, 0; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 59, 0; Bridgewater 46, 0; Inglewood 0, 0.
C-grade:
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 225 per cent, 4 points; Pyramid Hill 185, 4; Newbridge 112, 4; Marong 105, 4; Mitiamo 94, 0; Bridgewater 88, 0; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 53, 0; Calivil United 44, 0; Inglewood 0, 0.
C-reserve:
Marong 315 per cent, 4 points; Pyramid Hill 137, 4; Newbridge 126, 4; Bridgewater 78, 0; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 72, 0; Mitiamo 31, 0; Calivil United, Inglewood, Maiden Gully YCW.
17-and-under:
Bridgewater 844 per cent, 4 points; Pyramid Hill 186, 4; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 128, 4; Calivil United 77, 0; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 53, 0; Newbridge 11, 0; Inglewood 0, 0; Marong 0, 0; Mitiamo 0, 0.
15-and-under:
Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 192 per cent, 4 points; Marong 189, 4; Calivil United 167, 4; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 59, 0; Mitiamo 52, 0; Pyramid Hill 51, 0; Bridgewater 0; Inglewood 0, 0; Newbridge 0, 0.
13-and-under:
Marong 800 per cent, 4 points; Calivil United 566, 4; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 214, 4; Pyramid Hill 46, 0; Maiden Gully YCW 17, 0; Mitiamo 12, 0; Bridgewater; Inglewood 0, 0; Newbridge.