BY NATHAN DOLE
Big matches at Bridgewater, Serpentine
CRUCIAL matches will be played on Bridgewater’s and Serpentine’s courts in this Saturday’s 13th round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
It’s third against second as Bridgewater hosts Pyramid Hill at Bridgewater Recreation Reserve.
When these club met in round four it was the Chelsea Emmerson-coached Pyramid Hill which marked a 14-goal win at home at Mitchell Park.
The Mean Machine and Bulldogs won their latest matches.
A Bridgewater team jointly coached by Caz Wood and Olivia Collicoat scored a 28-goal victory at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval last Saturday.
Pyramid Hill took the points in a hard-fought clash with Marong by six goals.
This Saturday’s match at Bridgewater could be a prelude to a qualifying final.
It’s a tough fortnight for Pyramid Hill as the match at Bridgewater will be followed by the July 20 showdown with Mitiamo at Mitchell Park.
Another big match will be at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve where Bears-Lagoon Serpentine plays Marong.
The Danielle O’Toole-coached Bears have won six matches and hold fifth place on the ladder.
A Marong team coached by Robyn Cunnington has a chance to draw within two points of BLS by winning this match.
In round four it was the Bears who won 51-46 on Marong’s court at East West Oval in Malone Park.
Newbridge will be back home at Walker’s Doughnuts Riverside Oval to take on Inglewood.
The Selina Holland and Kristy Gandy-coached Newbridge won last Saturday’s home game against Bears-Lagoon Serpentine by eight goals.
The Maroons won at Inglewood by 37 goals in round four and will start favourite to take the points again.
Another big test for the Abbey Hayes-coached Blues against a team striving to claim a top-three finish and double chance at finals time.
The ladder-leading Mitiamo will be home at John Forbes Oval to play Calivil United.
The Jen Wilson-coached Superoos won their latest match on Maiden Gully YCW’s court at Marist College Bendigo by 21 goals.
Mitiamo is likely to have too much scoring power for the Haylee Fawcett-coached Demons to hold across four quarters.
The Demons are back in action after a bye.
Calivil United will be determined to play well after its previous meeting with Mitiamo ended in a 66-goal victory for the ladder leaders.
Maiden Gully YCW has the bye.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Mitiamo 176 per cent, 36 points; Pyramid Hill 153, 36; Bridgewater 134, 32; Newbridge 107, 30; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 111, 24; Marong 91, 18; Maiden Gully YCW 91, 12; Calivil United 53, 4; Inglewood 41, 0.