ONE point was the winning margin in the senior footy matches played at Pyramid Hill and Serpentine in Saturday’s eighth round of the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley Football Netball League season.
Teams had not played for three weeks.
Pyramid Hill took on Bridgewater in the match of the day as third faced second at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.
The Mean Machine led 27-7 at quarter-time, but it was the Bulldogs who blitzed in the second as they scored 8.2 to 1.2 to hold a 22-point buffer at the long break.
Bridgewater fought back strongly in the crucial third quarter to score five goals and held the Bulldogs to just one major as Mean Machine star Andy Collins provided a lot of drive from midfield.
It was Bridgewater by three points at a quarter to play.
The Mean Machine kicked the last two goals of the contest as Josh Martyn’s fourth of the contest sealed victory.
Martyn again led Bridgewater’s attack as Jarrod Fitzpatrick and Lloyd Needs added two goals each.
Pyramid Hill’s leading goalkicker was Braidy Dickens, four, as Ben Dalton, Matt Klein-Breteler and Matt Ladson all booted two goals.
The Bulldogs never gave up, especially after key players Matt Ladson and Brad Driscoll were hurt and had to be taken to hospital.
Bridgewater’s best were Andy Collins, ruckman Cameron Ross, Joseph Mayes, Harry Symons, Jack Symons and Boden Alexander.
Trent Barri, Klein-Breteler, Scott Mann, Dalton, Matt Ladson and Dickens were the Bulldogs’ best.
Bears Lagoon Serpentine fought from two goals down at the start of the final term to clinch a 77-76 victory at home against Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
The Eagles led 16-13 at quarter-time and 42-35 at the long break.
The heat was on the Bears after Maiden Gully YCW won the third term, 4.2 to 3.3.
Led by the play of ruckman Nathan Twigg, Darcy Poulter and Andy Gladman, BLS lifted to score three unanswered goals and take the lead.
A Sean Moyle major put the Eagles back within a point, but the Bears clawed their way to victory.
Poulter and Rhys Smith kicked two goals apiece for BLS.
Matt Gray led the Eagles’ attack on a six-goal haul as Moyle chipped in with two.
The Bears’ best included Jesse Evans, Tannar Cerrone and Brodie Hawke.
Ryan Strauch, Nathan Murley, Gray, Jordan Crisp, Sam Barnes and Josh Worsley starred for Maiden Gully YCW.
Newbridge dominated most of the second half to score a 31-point win against Calivil United at Simonds Homes Riverside Oval.
The Demons led 21-15 at quarter-time of the clash on Newbridge’s turf.
Newbridge fought back to lead 36-35 at the long break and went on to control most of the final hour.
The Maroons scored 6.9 to 2.3 in the second half to win 11.15 (81) to 7.8 (50).
Chris Dixon kicked a game-high three goals for Newbridge as Sam Brynhildsen and Josh Connolly added two each.
Lachlan McAllister led the Demons attack on two goals.
Newbridge’s best were Logan Dixon, Tom Hobson, Brandon Etherington, James Gadd, Dylan Lloyd and Harry Whittle.
Jedd Thompson, Brady Childs, Jordan Lea, Sam Green, Walter Miller and Tain Piercy played well for the Demons.
Marong’s newest recruit, Brandyn Grenfell kicked 10 goals as the Panthers blitzed Inglewood on the Blues’ ground at Dissy Machinery Oval.
A Panthers’ attack led by Grenfell, Kain Robins, nine goals, and Adrian Pappin, six, was in hot form.
The Linton Jacobs-coached Marong scored 36.24 (240) and kept the Blues to just four points.
It was the second time this season the Panthers had kept an opponent goalless.
Marong had scored 22 goals up to three quarter-time and then slammed on 14 in the last.
Richard Tibbett was best afield for the Panthers as Kain Robins, Ben Gregg, Pappin, Grenfell and Aron Morrish all played key roles.
Taj Rodwell, Josh Taig, Cody Stobaus, Matt Rowe, Cade Cohalan and Jaxon Billett were best on another tough afternoon for the Blues.
Mitiamo had the bye.
Standings after eight rounds in the Loddon Valley FNL senior footy competition:
Mitiamo 304 per cent, 28 points; Bridgewater 267, 28; Marong 223, 20; Pyramid Hill 203, 16; Bears Lagoon Serpentine 100, 16; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 86, 8; Newbridge 60, 8; Calivil United 30, 4; Inglewood 14, 0.
Highlight of next Saturday’s ninth round will be the showdown between top two, Mitiamo and Bridgewater at Bridgewater Bakehouse Oval.
Marong takes on Newbridge at Discover Marong Park, Malone Park.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles clash with Inglewood at Marist College Oval.
Pyramid Hill faces Bears Lagoon Serpentine at Mitchell Park.
Calivil United has the bye.
It’s an exciting duel for the goalkicking award.
Pyramid Hill’s Braidy Dickens has kicked 36 goals, but a nine-goal haul by Kain Robins lifted his tally to 35 and second place.
Next best are Bridgewater’s Josh Martyn, 32; Pyramid Hill’s Bailey George, 25; and Bridgewater’s Alex Powell on 23.
Mitiamo clubmates Tyrone Downie, 21, and Ryan Wellington, 19, will play crucial roles in the Superoos attempt for back-to-back premierships.
Written by Nathan Dole.