BY NATHAN DOLE
Superoos win great duel with Bridgewater
JUST three goals separated Mitiamo and Bridgewater at the end of the A-grade netball clash in Saturday’s 17th round of the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
A high-standard and high-pressure match at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval was ideal preparation for the finals.
The Jen Wilson-coached Mitiamo fought on to claim a 44-41 victory against the Mean Machine.
Although disappointed not to have taken the points, a Bridgewater team coached by Caz Wood and Olivia Collicoat will have gained plenty of confidence against the ladder leader.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine rounded out its home-and-away series by scoring a 15-goal win on Maiden Gully YCW’s court at Marist College Bendigo.
The Danielle O’Toole-coached Bears won 53-38.
In a season of great improvement, BLS holds fourth place and is assured of an elimination final berth against Bridgewater.
Runner-up the previous two seasons, Maiden Gully YCW had a huge turnover from the team which triumphed on grand final day in ’23.
The Adam Boldiston-coached Eagles of this season are on five wins approaching a final round match at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
Pyramid Hill kept Inglewood to a tally of 15 goals in last Saturday’s match at Mitchell Park.
The Chelsea Emmerson-coached team representing Pyramid Hill won 52-15 against the Abbey Hayes-coached Blues.
Calivil United was at home to play Newbridge.
The Haylee Fawcett-coached Calivil United worked hard, but Newbridge had too much skill and attacking power to hold across four quarters.
At the final siren the Selina Hollland and Kristy Gandy-coached Newbridge led 62-38.
Marong had the bye.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Mitiamo 172 per cent, 56 points; Pyramid Hill 149, 48; Newbridge 115, 42; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 118, 40; Bridgewater 118, 36; Marong 94, 22; Maiden Gully YCW 95, 20; Calivil United 54, 8; Inglewood 41, 0.
In next Saturady’s final round of the home and away series, Newbridge will be home at Walker’s Doughnuts Riverside Oval to take on Mitiamo.
Inglewood faces Marong on the Blues’ court at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
Pyramid Hill and Maiden Gully YCW clash at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
It’s the Mean Machine against the Demons as Bridgewater hosts Calivil United.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine has the bye.
Round 17 scoreboard:
B-grade:
Maiden Gully YCW 53 d Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 32, Mitiamo 31 lt Bridgewater 57, Calivil United 24 lt Newbridge 72, Pyramid Hill 47 d Inglewood 14, Marong bye.
C-grade:
Maiden Gully YCW 42 d Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 35, Mitiamo 34 lt Bridgewater 49, Calivil United 31 lt Newbridge 40, Pyramid Hill 49 d Inglewood 19, Marong bye.
C-reserve:
Maiden Gully YCW 63 d Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 17, Mitiamo 31 lt Bridgewater 57, Calivil United 29 lt Newbridge 59, Pyramid Hill 45 d Inglewood 34, Marong bye.
17-and-under:
Maiden Gully YCW 55 d Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 37, Mitiamo forfeit to Bridgewater, Calivil United 79 d Newbridge 22, Pyramid Hill 67 d Inglewood 29, Marong bye.
15-and-under:
Maiden Gully YCW 44 d Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 31, Mitiamo 27 lt Bridgewater 71, Calivil United d Newbridge (forfeit), Pyramid Hill 30 d Inglewood 26, Marong bye.
13-and-under:
Maiden Gully YCW 23 d Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 10, Mitiamo 11 lt Bridgewater 56, Calivil United d Newbridge (forfeit), Pyramid Hill 15 lt Inglewood 44, Marong bye.
League ladders:
B-grade:
Newbridge 166 per cent, 52 points; Marong 139, 52; Pyramid Hill 140, 48; Bridgewater 119, 34; Maiden Gully YCW 110, 32; Mitiamo 90, 24; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 74, 18; Calivil United 61, 8; Inglewood 47, 4.
C-grade:
Pyramid Hill 140 per cent, 54 points; Newbridge 123, 44; Bridgewater 120, 40; Marong 114, 40; Maiden Gully YCW 100, 30; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 100, 24; Mitiamo 95, 24; Inglewood 60, 10; Calivil United 66, 6.
C-reserve:
Marong 170 per cent, 56 points; Maiden Gully YCW 148, 52; Newbridge 128, 40; Pyramid Hill 125, 40; Bridgewater 124, 32; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 75, 24; Inglewood 78, 16; Mitiamo 63, 12; Calivil United 50, 0.
17-and-under:
Bridgewater 179 per cent, 52 points; Marong 154, 48; Calivil United 147, 44; Maiden Gully YCW 133, 44; Pyramid Hill 121, 36; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 82, 24; Inglewood 50, 12; Newbridge 35, 8.
15-and-under:
Calivil United 242 per cent, 56 points; Bridgewater 152, 52; Maiden Gully YCW 131, 40; Marong 114, 40; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 73, 24; Pyramid Hill 54, 24; Mitiamo 63, 16; Inglewood 58, 16.
13-and-under:
Marong 395 per cent, 56 points; Calivil United 316, 52; Inglewood 178, 44; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 58, 32; Pyramid Hill 50, 28; Bridgewater 74, 24; Maiden Gully YCW 61, 24; Mitiamo 33, 8.