BY NATHAN DOLE
Pyramid Hill rockets to premiership favouritism
PYRAMID Hill has rocketed to premiership favouritism in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL’s A-grade netball competition after Saturday’s stunning second semi-final win against Mitiamo.
For the second time this season the Chelsea Emmerson-coached Pyramid Hill outplayed Mitiamo.
Despite the windy conditions it was a high-scoring match between the Bulldogs and Superoos at Bridgewater Recreation Reserve.
Pyramid Hill led 55-46 at the final siren.
When they first met in the ’24 campaign, Pyramid Hill scored a 54-49 win on Mitiamo’s court at John Forbes Oval in the fifth round.
The Jen Wilson-coached Superoos bounced back from that loss to win 12 in a row.
Part of Mitiamo’s streak included a 49-43 victory on Pyramid Hill’s court at Mitchell Park in the 14th round.
Finishing on top of the ladder meant Mitiamo had a rest in the first week of the finals series.
As the Superoos took a break, Pyramid Hill won a closely-fought qualifying final with Newbridge by three goals.
The red, white and blue led 44-41 at the final siren.
After being bundled out in last year’s first semi-final, Pyramid Hill has struck back brilliantly to now be in the season decider.
For Mitiamo to earn a shot against Pyramid Hill in the grand final it must beat Bridgewater in next Saturday’s preliminary final at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
Bridgewater won Sunday’s first semi-final against Newbridge at East West Oval in Marong’s Malone Park by 20 goals.
The Caz Wood and Olivia Collicoat-coached Bridgewater dominated most of the contest with the Maroons to score a 58-38 victory.
It was a disappointing end to the season for the Selina Holland and Kristy Gandy-coached Newbridge which had finished within three goals of Pyramid Hill in the qualifying final.
A great run by Bridgewater began with the 36-32 victory against Bears-Lagoon Serpentine in the elimination final.
In the B-grade competition, Marong won a closely-fought first semi-final with Bridgewater.
The Marong Panthers clawed their way to a 55-49 victory and will now meet Pyramid Hill in the preliminary final.
The Bulldogs will be on the rebound from a 19-goal loss in the second semi-final showdown with Newbridge.
A great day for Marong in Sunday’s first semi-finals included wins in C-grade and 17-and-under.
The Panthers won the C-grade clash with Newbridge by five goals, and stayed in the 17-and-under premiership race after a 60-30 victory against Pyramid Hill.
It was a closely-fought finish in the C-reserve first semi as Bridgewater clung to a 42-38 lead against Newbridge at the final siren.
Maiden Gully YCW and Marong played out an exciting first semi in the 15-and-under competition.
The Eagles from Maiden Gully YCW scored a 38-35 victory against the Panthers.
Inglewood dominated the 13-and-under first semi-final against Maiden Gully YCW.
The Blues won 42-19 and will now take on Calivil United in a preliminary final.
Fans witnessed some exciting finishes to Saturday’s second semi-finals at Bridgewater.
Winners were first through to the September 14 grand finals at John Forbes Oval in Mitiamo.
Closest margin in the second semis was in C-reserve where Maiden Gully YCW Eagles soared to a 35-34 victory against Marong.
At 13-and-under level, Marong Panthers clawed their way to a 31-29 win against Calivil United.
Just four goals separated Bridgewater and Newbridge in the C-reserve contest.
The Mean Machine won 42-38.
It was a five-goal margin in C-grade as Marong claimed a 56-51 victory against Newbridge.
In B-grade, Marong fought on for a 55-49 win against Bridgewater.
At 15-and-under level, Bridgewater marked a seven-goal victory against Calivil United.
The Demons from Calivil United won the 17-and-under clash with Bridgewater by nine goals.
In C-grade, Bridgewater beat Pyramid Hill by nine goals.
Six clubs already feature on Loddon Valley’s grand final day to be run on September 14 at John Forbes Oval in Mitiamo.
Loddon Valley FNL’s netball first semi-finals scoreboard:
A-grade: Bridgewater 58 d Newbridge 38.
B-grade: Marong 55 d Bridgewater 49.
C-grade: Marong 56 d Newbridge 51.
C-reserve: Bridgewater 42 d Newbridge 38.
17-and-under: Marong 60 d Pyramid Hill 30.
15-and-under: Maiden Gully YCW 38 d Marong 35.
13-and-under: Inglewood 42 d Maiden Gully YCW 19.
Loddon Valley FNL’s netball second semi-finals scoreboard:
A-grade: Pyramid Hill 55 d Mitiamo 46.
B-grade: Newbridge 56 d Pyramid Hill 37.
C-grade: Bridgewater 29 d Pyramid Hill 20.
C-reserve: Maiden Gully YCW 35 d Marong 34.
17-and-under: Calivil United 45 d Bridgewater 36.
15-and-under: Bridgewater 49 d Calivil United 42.
13-and-under: Marong 31 d Calivil United 29.
Schedule for Saturday’s preliminary finals at Inglewood’s Centre State Scaffolding Oval:
15-and-under at 10.30am, court one: Calivil United v Maiden Gully YCW.
17-and-under at noon, court one: Bridgewater v Marong.
13-and-under at noon, court two: Calivil United v Inglewood.
B-grade at 1.30pm, court one: Pyramid Hill v Marong.
C-reserve at 1.30pm, court two: Marong v Bridgewater.
C-grade at 3pm, court two: Pyramid Hill v Marong.
A-grade at 3pm, court one: Mitiamo v Bridgewater.