BY NATHAN DOLE
MARONG was too strong for Pyramid Hill in Saturday’s fourth round of senior footy in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
The Panthers led 35-24 at quarter-time of the clash on their turf at Malone Park.
Quarter two would be the most telling of the contest as the Linton Jacobs-coached Marong scored 6.2 to 1.3 to lead by 40 points at the main break.
Pyramid Hill lifted to win the third, 24-19, but Marong’s skill and strength on every line was too great as it kicked away for a 124-82 victory.
The Panthers again showed they have many atacking options as Nathan Devanny, Brandyn Grenfell and Ryley Taylor kicked three goals, and Corey Gregg, Matt Riordan and Kain Robins chipped in with two each.
Bailey George and Jack Woodward led Pyramid Hill’s attack with three goals apiece as Zach Alford, Thomas Brennan and Will Perryman added two each.
Best for Marong were Lachlan Frankel, Brandyn Grenfell, Lachlan Lee, Richard Tibbett, Ryley Taylor and Noah McCaig.
Scott Mann, Gavin James, Dylan Morison, Declan Slingo, Steven Gunther and Thomas Hetherington played well for the Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Bulldogs.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine clawed its way from an eight-point deficit at three quarter-time to beat Calivil United by seven points.
The Anthony Dennis-coached Demons led 69-61 at a quarter to go in the Bears’ den at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve.
Callum Draper and Andy Gladman would mark four-goal hauls as James Bailey, Orion Downing and coach Justin Laird ended with two majors as BLS won 106-99.
Ben Baker was in hot form as he kicked six goals for Calivil United.
Anthony Dennis and Cody Thompson added two each.
Best for Bears-Lagoon Serpentine were Anthony Lewin, Josh Taig, Callum Draper, James Bailey, Charlie Gadsden and Andy Gladman.
Ben Baker, Anthony Dennis, ruckman Justin Hynes, Jake Lawry and Cody Thompson were best for the Demons.
Inglewood marked consecutive victories as the Blues outplayed Mitiamo on the Superoos’ ground at John Forbes Oval.
A high-scoring opening term was won by Inglewood, 37-20.
The Darrell Billett-coached Blues then slammed on 9.6 to just two points in the second to lead by 75 points at the long break.
Inglewood added six goals in quarter three and four in the last for a 172-49 victory.
Charlie McGaw was brilliant for the Blues as he kicked 10 goals.
Other multiple goalkickers were Sam Dorevitch and Fergus Payne, three; and Jack Lovett, two.
Andrew Cussen kicked three goals for Mitiamo and Brayden Baines booted two.
Inglewood’s best were Charlie McGaw, Sam Dorevitch, Fergus Payne, Thomas Kennedy, Nathan Angelino and Cody Wright.
Luke Lougoon, Ross Turner, Zac Morrison, Andrew Cussen, Duncan Proud and Brayden Baines worked hard for the Jon Varcoe-coached Superoos.
After a slow start to its home game, Bridgewater kicked clear of Newbridge to win by 46 points.
The Newbridge line-up led 8-7 at quarter-time before the Rick Ladson-coached Mean Machine kicked up a few gears to score 6.3 to a goal in the second.
Bridgewater captain Josh Martyn finished with a match-high four goals as Ben Irvine and Nic Naughton added three each in a 96-50 victory.
Newbridge skipper Angus Fortune kicked four goals.
Best for Bridgewater were Charlton Hindle, Darcy Wood, Emile Pavlich, Jack Symons, Jacob Ellings and Nic Naughton.
Dylan Stevens, Dylan Lloyd, Angus Fortune, Will Copland, Caleb Argus and Aidan Moore played well for the Maroons who are jointly coached by Sam Gale, playing, and Daniel Smith, non-playing.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles had the bye.
Loddon Valley FNL senior footy ladder:
Marong 437 per cent, 16 points; Bridgewater 150, 12; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 129, 12; Inglewood 117, 8; Pyramid Hill 102, 8; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 70, 4; Newbridge 31, 4; Calivil United 75, 0; Mitiamo 35, 0.
Leaders in the senior goalkicking race:
25 Josh Martyn, Bridgewater.
18 Brandyn Grenfell, Marong.
15 Charlie McGaw, Inglewood.
14 Andy Gladman, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
13 Matt Riordan, Marong.
13 Kain Robins, Marong.
11 Justin Laird, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
11 Ryley Taylor, Marong.
10 Keelan Payne, Inglewood.
7 Ben Baker, Calivil United.
7 Andrew Cussen, Mitiamo.
In Saturday’s fifth round, Pyramid Hill is back at Mitchell Park to play Bridgewater.
Newbridge hosts Mitiamo at Holloway Air Riverside Oval.
Inglewood tackles Maiden Gully YCW Eagles on the Blues’ turf at Dissy Machinery Oval.
Calivil United meets Marong in the Demons’ den at Calivil.
Bears-Lagoon Serpentine has the bye.