BY NATHAN DOLE
Pyramid Hill shuts down Mean Machine
PYRAMID Hill shut down Bridgewater’s Mean Machine in Saturday’s fourth round of senior footy action in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
The Pyramid Hill line-up was on home turf at Mitchell Park for the match of the day.
In a remarkable performance the Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Bulldogs kept Bridgewater to a tally of 3.4 (22) as it won the contest by 53 points.
Pyramid Hill led 14-nil at quarter-time and 33-13 by the main break.
The second half, especially the final term was dominated by the team in red, white and blue.
Inspired by the play of Tom McGregor, Bryden Morison and Damon Hemphill, Pyramid Hill scored 1.4 to 1.2 in the third and then slammed on 5.2 as the visitors added a point in the last.
At the final siren, Pyramid Hill led 75-22.
Zach Alford led the Bulldogs’ attack on three goals as Jaydon Cowling and Bailey Scott added two.
A powerful Bridgewater had limited impact on the match and there were no multiple goalkickers in a disappointing hit-out for the Rick Ladson-coached line-up.
Pyramid Hill’s best included Gavin James, Adrian Holland and Jesse Sheahan.
Best for Bridgewater were Joseph Mayes, Boden Alexander, Xavier Walsh, Lee Coghlan, Harry Donegan and Jack Neylon.
Marong won a high-scoring contest with Bears-Lagoon Serpentine at Marong’s Malone Park.
There were 33 goals kicked across a match the Panthers won 125-87.
Just 10 points separated the teams at half-time.
In the third quarter the Linton Jacobs-coached Marong kicked clear as it added 8.1 to 4.2.
A closely-fought final term also went the Panthers way, 26-21.
Kain Robins led Marong’s attack on five goals as Ryan Wellington chipped in with four.
Other multiple goalkickers were Noah McCaig, three; and Nathan Devanny, Lachlan Frankel and Lachlan Lee on two.
Bears’ gun recruit Josh Mellington kicked a match-high six goals.
James Rippingale and Andy Gladman added three and two goals for BLS.
Marong’s best were Matt Willox, Shaun Knott, Lachlan Frankel, Jack McCaig, Richard Tibbett and Nathan Devanny.
Farran Priest, Tyler Miles, James Rippingale, Darcy Hawker, Doolan Nihill and Justin Laird played well for the Bears.
Inglewood and Calivil United marked their first wins of the season.
The Fergus Payne-coached Inglewood won its home game at Centre State Scaffolding Oval against Newbridge by 25 points.
Faced with a 14-point deficit at half-time, Inglewood fought back brilliantly to score 5.2 to 2.3 in the third term.
The Blues won the last, 40-18, to complete a 95-70 victory.
Keelan Payne led Inglewood’s attack on five goals as Mitch Conlan added three.
Newbridge’s Chris Dixon booted four goals as co-coach Sam Gale kicked three.
Best for Inglewood were Daniel Polack, Will Allen, Luke Matheson, Will Allen, Tom Kennedy and Liam Marciano.
Sam Gale, Tyler Constable, Will Daly, Matt McArthur, Will Copland and Kobe Friswell were best for a Newbridge team which is co-coached by Daniel Smith.
After being outpointed in the third term, Calivil United struck back to take the points at home against Mitiamo.
The Anthony Dennis-coached Calivil United made a brilliant start to win the first quarter, 31-10.
By half-time the Demons held a 23-point buffer.
In the third quarter it was the Jon Varcoe-coached Superoos who took charge.
Mitiamo slammed on 6.2 to 2.1 to hold a two-point lead going into the final term.
The Demons turned up the heat to score 5.6 to 1.2 in the fourth quarter.
At the final siren Calivil United led 100-74.
Anthony Dennis kicked four goals in a best afield performance as Ben Baker, Jack Maher, Kane Newton and Cody Thompson added two each.
Mitiamo’s attack was led by Kia Coatsworth and Andrew Cussen on three, and Bryce Laird with two.
Best for the Demons were Anthony Dennis, Lewis Fisher, Cody Thompson, Jack Maher, Darcy Thompson and Kane Shelton.
Luke Lougoon, Jayden Matthews, Brayden Baines, Nathan Twigg, Zac Morrison and Andrew Cussen were Mitiamo’s best.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles had the bye.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Marong 293 per cent, 16 points; Bridgewater 187, 12; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 134, 12; Pyramid Hill 198, 8; Inglewood 49, 4; Calivil United 47, 4; Maiden Gully YCW 70, 0; Mitiamo 46, 0; Newbridge 45, 0.
In next Saturday’s fifth round, Bridgewater is at home against Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
The Eagles from Maiden Gully YCW tackle Inglewood at Marist College Oval in Maiden Gully.
Mitiamo and Pyramid Hill clash on the Superoos’ ground at John Forbes Oval.
Calivil United is home again to play Marong.
Newbridge has the bye.
Leaders in the goalkicking race:
41 Josh Mellington, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
36 Lachlan Sharp, Bridgewater.
14 Zach Alford, Pyramid Hill.
14 Kain Robins, Marong.
14 Jesse Sheahan, Pyramid Hill.
13 Ryan Wellington, Marong.
10 Noah McCaig, Marong.
8 Todd Delaney, Maiden Gully YCW.
8 Chris Dixon, Newbridge.
8 Bailey Scott, Pyramid Hill.
8 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
7 Mitch Conlan, Inglewood.
7 Jaydon Cowling, Pyramid Hill.
7 Sam Gale, Newbridge.