BY NATHAN DOLE
PYRAMID Hill clinched a dramatic victory in A-grade netball on Inglewood’s court on Saturday.
The Gemma Scott-coached Pyramid Hill went in as hot favourite to take the points against the Blues in the round 17 clash.
The Bulldogs were put under enormous pressure at Dissy Machinery Oval in Inglewood.
The Blues’ play defied the form of just two wins for the season.
In clearly its best performance of the ’23 campaign, the Helen Ward and Dianne Wayman-coached Inglewood kept the heat on the Bulldogs all match.
At the final whistle, Pyramid Hill led 36-33.
The Bulldogs face another big next Saturday when they play at Newbridge’s Beck Legal Riverside Oval in a likely elimination final prelude.
The Selina Holland-coached Newbridge is back on court after a bye.
In Saturday’s other round 17 matches it was wins for top teams Maiden Gully YCW, Mitiamo and Marong.
The ladder-leading Maiden Gully YCW Eagles soared to a 39-goal win against Calivil United at Marist College Bendigo.
Once again the Adam Boldiston-coached Eagles passed the 80-goal mark in an 83-44 victory.
The Chelsea Hicks-coached Demons worked hard, but could not halt the Eagles’ link and run from defence, through mid-court and into attack.
Mitiamo continued its build-up to another finals series by dominating its match with Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
The Jen Wilson-coached Mitiamo starred on its court at John Forbes Oval to claim an 87-20 win against the Stacee Burns-coached Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
Marong marked its Golden Jubilee celebrations with an A-grade victory against Bridgewater in the Panthers’ den at Malone Park.
A talented Marong line-up which is coached by Sue Borserio scored a 66-52 result against the Mean Machine.
It was the final hit-out of the home-and-away series for the Aimie Brown-coached Bridgewater as it has a bye in the 18th round.
Newbridge had the bye.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Maiden Gully YCW 179 per cent, 56 points; Mitiamo 168, 48; Marong 154, 46; Pyramid Hill 113, 42; Newbridge 102, 32; Bridgewater 84, 28; Calivil United 73, 12; Inglewood 49, 8; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 45, 0.
The final round of the home and away series will be played next Saturday.
Match of the day will be at Marong’s Malone Park where the Panthers take on Mitiamo in a contest between third and second.
Newbridge is on its court at Beck Legal Riverside Oval to take on Pyramid Hill.
Calivil United hosts Inglewood.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine takes on the ladder-leading Maiden Gully YCW.
Bridgewater has the bye.
Round 17 scoreboard:
B-grade:
Marong 61 d Bridgewater 47, Inglewood 30 lt Pyramid Hill 43, Maiden Gully YCW 82 d Calivil United 34, Mitiamo 30 lt Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 33, Newbridge had the bye.
C-grade:
Marong 57 lt Bridgewater 60, Inglewood 10 lt Pyramid Hill 56, Maiden Gully YCW 63 d Calivil United 37, Mitiamo 34 d Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 28, Newbridge had the bye.
C-reserve:
Marong 56 d Bridgewater 31, Inglewood 11 lt Pyramid Hill 46, Maiden Gully YCW 54 d Calivil United 32, Mitiamo 25 lt Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 60, Newbridge had the bye.
17-and-under:
Marong 52 d Bridgewater 46, Pyramid Hill bye, Maiden Gully YCW 38 lt Calivil United 51, Mitiamo 17 lt Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 65, Newbridge had the bye.
15-and-under:
Marong 33 lt Bridgewater 41, Inglewood 33 d Pyramid Hill 30, Maiden Gully YCW 34 lt Calivil United 44, Mitiamo 24 lt Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 49.
13-and-under:
Marong 21 lt Bridgewater 34, Inglewood 10 dr Pyramid Hill 10, Maiden Gully YCW 25 lt Calivil United 53, Mitiamo 12 lt Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 43.
Ladders after 17 rounds:
B-grade:
Marong 208 per cent, 60 points; Maiden Gully YCW 166, 52; Pyramid Hill 112, 40; Bridgewater 111, 38; Newbridge 103, 38; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 67, 24; Mitiamo 72, 12; Inglewood 62, 4; Calivil United 57, 4.
C-grade:
Maiden Gully YCW 184 per cent, 56 points; Marong 182, 50; Pyramid Hill 155, 46; Bridgewater 117, 44; Newbridge 89, 26; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 93, 24; Mitiamo 78, 20; Calivil United 64, 6; Inglewood 26, 0.
C-reserve:
Marong 247 per cent, 56 points; Maiden Gully YCW 182, 56; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 140, 48; Newbridge 117, 32; Bridgewater 99, 32; Calivil United 76, 20; Pyramid Hill 59, 14; Mitiamo 57, 10; Inglewood 43, 4.
17-and-under:
Marong 159 per cent, 52 points; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 147, 48; Bridgewater 146, 48; Maiden Gully YCW 151, 40; Calivil United 144, 40; Pyramid Hill 67, 18; Newbridge 58, 18; Mitiamo 24, 8.
15-and-under:
Calivil United 169 per cent, 54 points; Bridgewater 143, 50; Inglewood 123, 44; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 122, 40; Maiden Gully YCW 119, 34; Pyramid Hill 84, 22; Marong 85, 20; Mitiamo 28, 8.
13-and-under:
Calivil United 447 per cent, 60 points; Maiden Gully YCW 143, 48; Bridgewater 104, 48; Inglewood 152, 38; Pyramid Hill 88, 30; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 60, 22; Marong 51, 18; Mitiamo 18, 8.