By Nathan Dole
A TOUGH start to Bridgewater’s netball season rolls on in the A-grade clash with Maiden Gully YCW in Saturday’s second round of the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley Football Netball League season.
Bridgewater is on the rebound from a 35-goal loss at Mitiamo’s John Forbes Oval in the season opener played on April 1.
Strong defensive efforts in all thirds of the Bridgewater will be a key focus for the Aimie Brown-coached Mean Machine.
Maiden Gully YCW began its quest for back-to-back premierships in style as the Eagles soared to a 56-47 win against Marong at Marist College Oval in Maiden Gully.
The Adam Boldiston-coached Eagles have plenty of attacking power and skill in mid-court.
Bears Lagoon-Serpentine is at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve to take on Newbridge.
The Stacee Burns-coached Bears were beaten 47-35 in round one at Inglewood’s Dissy Machinery Oval.
Newbridge won a hard-fought contest, 39-37 on Calivil United’s court at Calivil.
The Selina Holland-coached Maroons will start favourite to take the points in another away clash.
Marong takes on Inglewood in the Panthers’ den at Malone Park.
The Sue Borserio-coached Panthers will be wary of an Inglewood line-up which marked its return to A-grade by scoring an eight-goal win against BLS in the first round.
Jointly coached by Helen Ward and Dianne Wayman, Inglewood will take plenty of confidence into this match.
Calivil United is at home again to play Pyramid Hill.
The Chelsea Hicks-coached Demons will be determined to avoid a nil-two start.
A premiership-winning coach of Pyramid Hill in 2015, Gemma Scott is back at the club in charge of the A-grade team.
Key players include last season’s coach Abbey Dingwall in defence, and Imogen Broad in mid-court.
It’s a testing start for the red, white and blue who take on Calivil United, Bridgewater, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine and Marong in the opening four rounds.
Mitiamo has the bye.
LVNFL A-grade netball ladder:
Mitiamo 194 per cent, 4 points; Inglewood 134, 4; Maiden Gully YCW 119, 4; Newbridge 105, 4; Calivil United 94, 0; Marong 83, 0; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 74, 0; Bridgewater 51, 0; Pyramid Hill 0, 0.