BY NATHAN DOLE
Bears celebrate long-awaited victory
A FIVE-YEAR wait for Bears-Lagoon Serpentine to win an A-grade netball match in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL has ended.
The Bears dominated most of last Saturday’s match on Inglewood’s court at Centre State Scaffolding to score a 46-goal victory.
Lured from Marong to be playing coach, Danielle O’Toole was rapt with the Bears four-quarter performance.
The BLS line-up led by seven goals at quarter-time and won the second by 14 goals.
There was no let-up in the Bears’ attack to the goaling circle or when having to defend.
By the final whistle Bears-Lagoon Serpentine led 67-21 in a match where Lara Clements and Ava Francis led the way for the purple and gold.
Closest margin of the round was at Walker’s Doughnuts Oval in Newbridge’s Riverside Oval where Newbridge took on Marong.
The Marong Panthers clawed their way to a 37-35 victory.
A new-look Maiden Gully YCW Eagles was beaten by Bridgewater at Marist College Oval in Maiden Gully.
The Bridgewater team won 53-34.
It was the first defeat for the Adam Boldiston-coached Eagles since May 13 of 2023 when Newbridge won the round six match at Maiden Gully by three goals.
Pyramid Hill moved to the top of the ladder after a 50-11 win against Calivil United at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Pyramid Hill 196 per cent, 8 points; Mitiamo 200, 4; Bears Lagoon-Serpentine 138, 4; Newbridge 114, 4; Bridgewater 111, 4; Maiden Gully YCW 103, 4; Marong 67, 4; Calivil United 43, 0; Inglewood 31, 0.
The rematch of ’23 grand finalists, Mitiamo and Maiden Gully YCW Eagles highlights next Saturday’s third round.
After a bye, Mitiamo will be on court at John Forbes Oval to take on the Eagles.
The Jen Wilson-coached Superoos started this season by winning the clash at Marong’s Malone Park by 38 goals.
Bridgewater is at home to play Inglewood.
Marong faces Pyramid Hill in the Panthers’ den at Malone Park.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine meets Newbridge at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Calivil United has the bye.
Round two scoreboard:
B-grade: Inglewood 19 lt Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 28, Newbridge 43 d Marong 31, Maiden Gully YCW 45 lt Bridgewater 51, Pyramid Hill 63 d Calivil United 30, Mitiamo bye.
C-grade: Inglewood 12 lt Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 34, Newbridge 46 d Marong 38, Maiden Gully YCW 42 dr Bridgewater 42, Pyramid Hill 54 d Calivil United 17, Mitiamo bye.
C-reserve: Inglewood 38 lt Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 45, Newbridge 21 lt Marong 38, Maiden Gully YCW 38 d Bridgewater 30, Pyramid Hill 39 d Calivil United 24, Mitiamo bye.
17-and-under: Inglewood 33 lt Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 37, Newbridge 13 lt Marong 74, Maiden Gully YCW 40 d Bridgewater 36, Pyramid Hill 26 lt Calivil United 42.
15-and-under: Inglewood 12 lt Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 26, Newbridge forfeit to Marong, Maiden Gully YCW 42 lt Bridgewater 49, Pyramid Hill 12 lt Calivil United 58, Mitiamo bye.
13-and-under: Inglewood 46 d Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 46, Newbridge forfeit to Marong, Maiden Gully YCW 13 lt Bridgewater 24, Pyramid Hill 4 lt Calivil United 39, Mitiamo bye.
League ladders:
B-grade:
Pyramid Hill 190 per cent, 8 points; Newbridge 174, 8; Marong 109, 4; Maiden Gully YCW 106, 4; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 86, 4; Bridgewater 75, 4; Mitiamo 69, 0; Inglewood 67, 0; Calivil United 61, 0.
C-grade:
Pyramid Hill 235 per cent, 8 points; Newbridge 117, 8; Maiden Gully YCW 149, 6; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 96, 4; Marong 92, 4; Bridgewater 94, 2; Mitiamo 94, 0; Calivil United 38, 0; Inglewood 35, 0.
C-reserve:
Marong 245 per cent, 8 points; Maiden Gully YCW 202, 8; Pyramid Hill 148, 8; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 93, 4; Newbridge 86, 4; Inglewood 84, 0; Bridgewater 78, 0; Calivil United 43, 0; Mitiamo 31, 0.
17-and-under:
Marong 569 per cent, 8 points; Maiden Gully YCW 115, 8; Bridgewater 234, 4; Pyramid Hill 113, 4; Calivil United 106, 4; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 75, 4; Inglewood 89, 0; Newbridge 14, 0.
15-and-under:
Calivil United 255 per cent, 8 points; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 203, 8; Marong 189, 8; Bridgewater 116, 8; Maiden Gully YCW 72, 0; Mitiamo 52, 0; Inglewood 46, 0; Pyramid Hill 30, 0.
13-and-under:
Marong 800 per cent, 8 points; Calivil United 730, 8; Bridgewater 184, 8; Inglewood 766, 4; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 39, 4; Maiden Gully YCW 32, 0; Pyramid Hill 20, 0; Mitiamo 12, 0.