MITIAMO’S reign as A-grade premier in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL will roll on for another year after the Superoos won Saturday’s grand final against Pyramid Hill.
The Superoos and Bulldogs played out a classic match at Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval in Newbridge.
Their previous match in the second semi-final ended in a 17-goal victory for Pyramid Hill which also broke Mitiamo’s unbeaten streak.
On grand final day scores were locked on 23-all at half-time.
Seven unanswered goals in the third put the Superoos in control, but Pyramid Hill bounced back brilliantly.
The team in red, white and blue drew within two goals going into the final term.
Pyramid Hill hit the front early in the final term before Mitiamo goaler Laura Hicks made it 42-apiece.
Another four goals in a row put Mitiamo in control.
By the final siren the Abbey Battersby and Jess Kaur-coached Mitiamo led 54-48.
Best on court honours went to Mitiamo wing attack Alicia Hay as Laura Hicks scored 39 goals in her fourth A-grade premiership victory with the Superoos.
The grand final victory capped a brilliant season for centre Amelia Ludeman who earned the Helen Ward Medal as league fairest and best.
Mitiamo also had the premiership-winning experience of goal defender Jayne Norton who had previously played for the Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
For Pyramid Hill it was an outstanding game by goalshooter Jessica Holdstock who scored 35 goals.
The Chelsea Emmerson-coached Pyramid Hill will now work on capturing its first A-grade netball title since the 2017 season.
Grand final featured seven of the league’s nine clubs represented across seven netball grand finals.
In the A-reserve clash, Bridgewater scored a 57-51 victory against Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
Best on court was Bridgewater’s Natalie Flood.
A closely-fought B-grade decider went the way of Bridgewater, 41-35 against Pyramid Hill.
The best on court medal was awarded to Pyramid Hill’s Shannon Taylor.
Premier in B-reserve was Pyramid Hill after a 37-25 victory against Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
Erin Farrar capped a great match for the Bulldogs by earning best-on-court honours.
The 17-and-under premiership went to Calivil United after a 53-42 win against Bridgewater.
Elodie Sharman from Calivil United was adjudged best-on-court.
The Demons were one of two clubs to mark a premiership double after the 15-and-under team scored a 55-34 win against Marong.
Calivil United’s Zara Crapper earned the best-on-court medal.
Closest margin of the day was in the 13-and-under match where Newbridge marked a 23-18 win against Calivil United.
Abby Colt from Newbridge was best-on-court.
Loddon Valley FNL netball grand final scoreboard:
A-grade: Mitiamo 54 d Pyramid Hill 48.
Mitiamo’s team – Abbey Battersby, Caitlyn Gilmour, Alicia Hay, Laura Hicks, Amelia Ludeman, Jayne Norton, Kelly Pay, Carly Scholes. Coaches: Abbey Battersby and Jess Kaur.
A-reserve: Bridgewater 57 d Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 51.
Bridgewater’s team – Ashlee Bowen, Natalie Flood, Rachael Flood, Jessica Ford, Kirsten Galea, Keira Lane, Jorja Lee, Holly Normoyle, Claudia Petri, Sam Reaper, Ava Wood. Coaches: Caz Wood and Olivia Hoiles.
B-grade: Bridgewater 41 d Pyramid Hill 35.
Bridgewater’s team – Kaidi Browell, Carly Dewar, Milla Finch, Tamara Hayes, Tia Lane, Tiahna Leader, Emma Jenkyn, Georgia Mamouney-Brown, Mackenzie Mamouney-Brown, Alex Perera. Coach: Georgia Mamouney-Brown.
B-reserve: Pyramid Hill 37 d Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 25.
Pyramid Hill’s team – Billie-Jo Donat, Chelsea Emmerson, Erin Farrar, Mikayla Gibson, Kelly Gould, Mikayla Parker-Caldwell, Claire Pickles, Zoe Ross, Jessica Zimmer. Coach: Amber Dingwall.
17-and-under: Calivil United 53 d Bridgewater 42.
Calivil United’s team – Lexie Austen, Ava Beck, Chelsea Doolan, Stephanie Ingram, Jorja Lawry, Ava Rudkins, Georgia Pascoe, Layla Pearce, Elodie Sharman. Coach: Brianna Richardson.
15-and-under: Calivil United 55 d Marong 34.
Calivil United’s team – Zara Crapper, Ruby Cullen, Zali Cullen, Charlie Lenton, Lucy Pascoe, Caitlin Ralphs, Olivia Richardson, Paige Smith, Teagen Vinnicombe. Coach: Karen Pascoe.
13-and-under: Newbridge 23 d Calivil United 18.
Newbridge’s team – Adeline Benallack, Darcie Coghill, Abby Colt, Myra Cox, Zoe Dixon, Emily Harris, Milla Lakey, Priya Lewis, Audrey Loy, Macey Neilsen. Coach: Stacey Lakey.