BY NATHAN DOLE
Ladder leaders meet on Mitiamo’s court
THE ladder-leading Pyramid Hill and Mitiamo meet in Saturday’s fifth round of A-grade netball action in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
Both teams take unbeaten records into the match on Mitiamo’s court at John Forbes Oval at 3pm.
The Chelsea Emmerson-coached Pyramid Hill scored a 53-39 victory in last Saturday’s home game against Bridgewater at Mitchell Park.
As the Bulldogs defeated the Mean Machine, Mitiamo won on Calivil United’s court by 66 goals.
The Jen Wilson-coached Mitiamo is in great form.
Runner-up the past two seasons, Mitiamo has won this season’s contests by margins of 38, 23 and 66 goals.
It will be a huge challenge for Pyramid Hill’s mid-courters and defence in limiting the influence of the Superoos goalers.
Wins by 15, 39, 20 and 14 goals have earned the team in red, white and blue the top rung on the league ladder.
On the rebound from defeat, Bridgewater faces a resurgent Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
The Bridgewater line-up jointly coached by Caz Wood and Olivia Collicoat has a win-loss record of two-two and is in fourth place.
It’s an identical record for the Danielle O’Toole-coached Bears-Lagoon Serpentine which marked a 51-46 victory in last Saturday’s away game at Marong’s Malone Park.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles will be back on court at Marist College to take on Inglewood.
The Eagles had the bye last round.
A new-look Maiden Gully YCW team coached by Adam Boldiston is sixth on a one-two record.
The Eagles defeated Calivil United in round one by 22 goals, but since then were beaten by Bridgewater, 53-34, and Mitiamo, 57-34.
Been a tough run for the Abbey Hayes-coached Inglewood in recent weeks.
The Blues were home at Centre State Scaffolding Oval for the round four clash with Newbridge.
At the final whistle, Newbridge led 58-21.
The previous week the Blues played at Bridgewater where the Mean Machine rolled to a 37-goal victory.
Calivil United will eye a chance to record its first win of the season when it hosts Marong at Calivil Recreation Reserve.
Latest hit-out for the Haylee Fawcett-coached Calivil United was at home against Mitiamo.
The red and blue was outpointed by one of the competition’s best.
Maintaining a high level of defensive pressure for longer will be a goal for the Demons.
The Robyn Cunnington-coached Marong has a one-three record.
The Panthers played great netball to win at Newbridge in round two, but then endured 20-plus goal defeats against Mitiamo and Pyramid Hill.
A preliminary finalist last season, Marong is a win and significant percentage adrift of the fourth and fifth-placed teams.
Third on the ladder, Newbridge has the bye.
The Selina Holland and Kristy Gandy-coached team from Newbridge will be home at Walker’s Doughnuts Oval in Riverside Park to take on Maiden Gully YCW Eagles next round.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Pyramid Hill 163 per cent, 16 points; Mitiamo 236, 12; Newbridge 141, 12; Bridgewater 120, 8; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 120, 8; Maiden Gully YCW 86, 4; Marong 73, 4; Inglewood 36, 0; Calivil United 34, 0.