BY NATHAN DOLE
PYRAMID Hill won a tough battle with Bears-Lagoon Serpentine in Saturday’s third round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley Football Netball League.
The Bulldogs were on home turf at Mitchell Park for this contest.
Pyramid Hill led 40-24 at quarter-time, but it was the Bears who won the second term, 13-6, to be within nine points at the main break.
The Dogs surged to a 19-point lead at a quarter to go before both line-ups added five goals in the last.
The Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill led 119-101 at the final siren.
Dylan Collins kicked five goals for the Bulldogs as Zach Alford, three; and Scott Mann, two, were also dangerous in the forward 50m arc.
The Bears’ attack was led by coach Justin Laird on six.
Charlie Gadsden, Andy and Steve Gladman chipped in with goals apiece for BLS.
Best for the Bulldogs were Dylan Collis, Zac Dingwall, Zach Alford, Bailey George, Adrian Holland Steven Gunther.
Jaxon Addlem, Darcy Poulter, Aidan Brohm, Louis Mott, Nash Kemp and Harry Gadsden playe well for the Bears.
Inglewood celebrated a long-awaited victory against Bridgewater.
The Blues had not beaten the Mean Machine since 2008.
On Saturday it was Inglewood which won three of four quarters at Dissy Machinery Oval for a 103-70 result.
The Darrell Billett-coached Blues led 28-6 at quarter-time and 48-24 by the main break.
Bridgewater hit back in the third, but cut the deficit by just three points as it scored 5.1 to 4.4.
Key forward Keelan Payne went on to kick a team-high five goals for Inglewood as Charlie Ingham and Charlie Ingham added three each in a 103-70 result.
Bridgewater captain Josh Martyn continued his hot form with seven goals as Nic Naughton added two for the Rick Ladson-coached Mean Machine.
Best for Inglewood were Thomas Kennedy, Charlie McGaw, Bregon Cotchett, Charlie Ingham, Keelan Payne and Gabe Nevins.
Darcy Wood, Ben Irvine, Josh Martyn, Zane Hoiles, Jack Symons and Harry Donegan were Bridgewater’s best.
Maiden Gully YCW coach Jay McDonald marked his first victory as the Eagles triumphed 127-73 against Mitiamo at Marist College Oval.
The Eagles led 60-51 at the end of a highly-entertaining first half.
In the third it was MGYCW which added 5.4 to 3.3.
There was plenty of confidence and dare in the Eagles play as they slammed on 5.3 to a point in the last term.
Hamish McCartney capped a great captain’s game with five goals as Brody Green, three; Brandon Dimech and Thomas Durston added two majors.
Multiple goalkickers for Mitiamo were Andrew Cussen, four; Brayden Baines, three; and Jay Reynolds, two.
Brody Green, Hamish McCartney, Nathan Murley, Josh Worsley, Bailey Archer and Matthew Crooks were best for the Eagles.
Ross Turner, Andrew Cussen, Brayden Baines, Luke Lougoon, Daniel Walters and Waylon Draper were best for the Jon Varcoe-coached Mitiamo.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Marong 879 per cent, 12 points; Bridgewater 139.68, 8; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 139.17, 8; Pyramid Hill 138, 8; Inglewood 77, 4; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 70, 4; Newbridge 25, 4; Calivil United 60, 0; Mitiamo 40, 0.
Leading goalkickers:
21 Josh Martyn, B.
15 Brandyn Grenfell, Mar.
11 Matt Riordan, Mar.; Kain Robins, Mar.
10 Andy Gladman, BLS.
9 Justin Laird, BLS; Keelan Payne, I.
8 Ryley Taylor, Mar.
5 Michael Bradbury, Mar.; Dylan Collis, PH; Hamish McCartney, MGYCW; Charlie McGaw, I.
In next Saturday’s fourth round, Marong is back at Malone Park to take on Pyramid Hill.
It’s the battle of the bridges between Bridgewater and Newbridge at Bridgewater Recreation Reserve.
Mitiamo is on home turf at John Forbes Oval to face Inglewood.
Bears Lagoon Serpentine tackles Calivil United at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles have the bye.