BY NATHAN DOLE
THE ladder-leading Maiden Gully YCW Eagles soared to another big win in Saturday’s 11th round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
In pursuit of back-to-back premierships, Maiden Gully YCW was on its court at Marist College Bendigo to take on Bridgewater.
The Adam Boldiston-coached Eagles won 66-39 to stay six points clear of second-placed Pyramid Hill.
Defeat has left the Aimie Brown-coached Bridgewater eight points behind the fifth-placed Newbridge.
Results in other matches went as expected.
Marong scored a 53-goal win on Inglewood’s court at Dissy Machinery Oval.
The Sue Borserio-coached Panthers won 77-24.
Final margin was the same as in round two when the Helen Ward and Dianne Wayman-coached Blues played on Marong’s court at Malone Park.
Pyramid Hill won 55-42 on its court at Mitchell Park against Calivil United.
The Gemma Scott-coached Bulldogs have achieved 7 ½ wins to be second in the premiership race.
It will be extremely difficult for the Chelsea Hicks-coached Calivil United to qualify for the finals.
Newbridge scored a 21-goal win on its court at Beck Legal Riverside Oval against Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
The Selina Holland-coached Maroons had to work much harder this time for a 49-28 result.
It was a vastly improved performance by the Stacee Burns-coached Bears-Lagoon Serpentine which was beaten by 47 goals in the round two match with Newbridge at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Mitiamo had the bye.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Maiden Gully YCW 183 per cent, 36 points; Pyramid Hill 125, 30; Mitiamo 159, 28; Marong 154, 26; Newbridge 110, 24; Bridgewater 72, 16; Calivil United 78, 8; Inglewood 47, 8; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 47, 0.
Highlight of next Saturday’s 12th round will be Mitiamo against Maiden Gully YCW at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval.
Newbridge is at home again to play Marong at Beck Legal Riverside Oval.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine faces Pyramid Hill at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Bridgewater hosts Inglewood.
Calivil United has the bye.
Round 11 scoreboard:
B-grade:
Maiden Gully YCW 57 d Bridgewater 40, Pyramid Hill 38 d Calivil United 20, Inglewood 28 lt Marong 66, Newbridge 38 d Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 24, Mitiamo bye.
C-grade:
Maiden Gully YCW 52 d Bridgewater 36, Pyramid Hill 49 d Calivil United 31, Inglewood 14 lt Marong 81, Newbridge 44 d Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 29, Mitiamo bye.
C-reserve:
Maiden Gully YCW 50 d Bridgewater 28, Pyramid Hill 23 lt Calivil United 40, Inglewood 9 lt Marong 67, Newbridge 28 lt Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 33, Mitiamo bye.
17-and-under:
Maiden Gully YCW 45 d Bridgewater 34, Pyramid Hill 13 lt Calivil United 40, Marong bye, Newbridge 32 lt Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 46, Mitiamo bye.
15-and-under:
Maiden Gully YCW 28 lt Bridgewater 34, Pyramid Hill 20 lt Calivil United 36, Inglewood 35 d Marong 33, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine bye, Mitiamo bye.
13-and-under:
Maiden Gully YCW 29 d Bridgewater 22, Pyramid Hill 2 lt Calivil United 25, Inglewood 33 d Marong 17, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine bye, Mitiamo bye.
Ladders after 11 rounds:
B-grade:
Marong 203 per cent, 40 points; Maiden Gully YCW 150, 32; Pyramid Hill 122, 28; Newbridge 109, 28; Bridgewater 103, 20; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 67, 16; Calivil United 68, 4; Mitiamo 66, 4; Inglewood 57, 4.
C-grade:
Marong 209 per cent, 36 points; Maiden Gully YCW 178, 36; Pyramid Hill 157, 28; Bridgewater 104, 24; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 103, 20; Newbridge 88, 18; Mitiamo 77, 8; Calivil United 68, 6; Inglewood 21, 0.
C-reserve:
Marong 242 per cent, 36 points; Maiden Gully YCW 167, 36; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 145, 32; Newbridge 108, 20; Bridgewater 100, 20; Calivil United 83, 18; Pyramid Hill 53, 10; Inglewood 48, 4; Mitiamo 52, 0.
17-and-under:
Calivil United 174 per cent, 32 points; Marong 163, 32; Bridgewater 155, 32; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 141, 32; Maiden Gully YCW 130, 24; Pyramid Hill 59, 10; Newbridge 58, 10; Mitiamo 23, 4.
15-and-under:
Calivil United 181 per cent, 36 points; Bridgewater 161, 32; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 126, 28; Inglewood 112, 24; Maiden Gully YCW 117, 22; Marong 93, 16; Pyramid Hill 77, 14; Mitiamo 23, 4.
13-and-under:
Calivil United 615 per cent, 40 points; Maiden Gully YCW 158, 32; Inglewood 158, 28; Bridgewater 96, 28; Pyramid Hill 68, 16; Marong 56, 14; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 45, 14; Mitiamo 20, 4.