BY NATHAN DOLE
Big test for Newbridge against Hill’s team
NEWBRIDGE faces a huge test against Pyramid Hill in Saturday’s round 16 action in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition.
It’s third against second as Newbridge hosts the Bulldogs at Walker’s Doughnuts Riverside Oval.
Match of the round between the Maroons and Pyramid Hill will start at 3pm.
When these teams met in round seven it was Newbridge which won a thriller on Pyramid Hill’s court at Mitchell Park.
The Selina Holland and Kristy Gandy-coached Maroons marked a 40-38 victory in the Reconciliation Round match.
In last Saturday’s play Newbridge fought on for a 48-44 win against Maiden Gully YCW Eagles at Marist College Bendigo in Maiden Gully.
Pyramid Hill had the bye.
A Pyramid Hill team coached by Chelsea Emmerson goes into this round two points clear of Newbridge.
Saturday’s clash may be a prelude to a qualifying final showdown between the Bulldogs and Maroons on August 24.
Another big match in round 16 will be at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve where Bears-Lagoon Serpentine takes on Mitiamo.
Huge test for the .Danielle O’Toole-coached Bears against the league leaders.
When these teams met in round seven it was the Jen Wilson-coached Mitiamo which won 66-43 at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval.
Both teams had emphatic wins last Saturday.
The Bears charged to a 69-33 win on Calivil United’s court as Mitiamo defeated Inglewood by 47 goals.
It’s sixth against seventh as Marong takes on Maiden Gully YCW at East West Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.
When they met in Reconciliation Round it was the Robyn Cunnington-coached Marong which won 46-41 on the Eagles court.
The Robyn Cunnington-coached Marong played well to finish within six goals of Bridgewater last Saturday.
It’s been a tough run for Maiden Gully YCW which has a new-look team following the grand final triumphs of ’22 and ’23.
The Adam Boldiston-coached Eagles will be determined to mark win number five this round.
Inglewood will eye a great chance to end its winless run when it plays Calivil United on the Blues’ court at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
The Abbey Hayes-coached Inglewood starts the round four premiership points and 11 per cent behind Calivil United.
When these teams met in round seven it was the Haylee Fawcett-coached Calivil United Demons who fired up to record a 48-36 victory in the den.
Bridgewater has the bye.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Mitiamo 182 per cent, 48 points; Pyramid Hill 147, 40; Newbridge 113, 38; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 122, 36; Bridgewater 120, 36; Marong 94, 22; Maiden Gully YCW 96, 16; Calivil United 51, 4; Inglewood 40, 0.