-By Nathan Dole
A SHOWDOWN between the second and third-placed Pyramid Hill and Newbridge highlights Saturday’s 10th round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL season.
Pyramid Hill has home-court advantage at Mitchell Park for a crucial test with the Maroons.
Both teams scored impressive wins last round.
Pyramid Hill won on Maiden Gully YCW Eagles’ court by 31 goals and Newbridge won at Marong’s Jackal Oval by 10 goals.
When Newbridge and Pyramid Hill met in round one it was the Bulldogs who claimed a 51-44 victory at Deepcore Drilling Riverside Oval in Newbridge.
Sole defeat for a Pyramid Hill team coached by Chelsea Emmerson, Simone Edgley and Laura Herbert was to Mitiamo.
The Selina Holland and Kristy Gandy-coached Newbridge is now on a win-loss tally of six-two and well-placed to feature in the finals action.
Another big match on Saturday will be at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve where the Bears take on Bridgewater.
In round one the Bears clawed their way to a 45-43 victory on Bridgewater’s court.
Stung by a three-goal loss to Calivil United on its court last round, Bears-Lagoon Serpentine is still a win and now more than 11 per cent adrift of the fifth-placed Marong.
Massive test for the Bears against a Bridgewater line-up which has a four-four record.
The BLS team is jointly coached by Danielle O’Toole and Lara Clements.
Latest hit-out for Bridgewater was at home against Mitiamo.
The Caz Wood and Olivia Hoiles-coached Bridgewater kept the pressure at a high level against the reigning premier.
A top contest ended in a 48-40 victory for Mitiamo.
Now locked on eight premiership points, Maiden Gully YCW Eagles and Calivil United clash this Saturday at Marist College Oval in Maiden Gully.
In the season opener it was the Leisa Barry-coached Eagles who won 55-49 on Calivil’s court.
The Eagles will be wary of a Demons line-up which stunned Bears-Lagoon Serpentine last Saturday.
A Calivil United team coached by Cindy Portwine will be keen to repeat or improve on last Saturday’s form and take the points in the Eagles’ nest.
Marong will be on its court at Jackal Oval in Malone Park to play Inglewood.
The Bridget Willox-coached Marong will start favourite to take the points and stay in touch with Bridgewater or surge further clear of Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.
In round one the Panthers netted a 50-23 victory on Inglewood’s court at Centre State Scaffolding Oval.
The Caitlyn Cartwright-coached Inglewood had the bye last round.
Mitiamo has the bye this Saturday.
Standings in the Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball competition:
Mitiamo 165 per cent, 32 points; Pyramid Hill 145, 28; Newbridge 131, 24; Bridgewater 131, 16; Marong 101, 16; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 90, 12; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 75, 8; Calivil United 67, 8; Inglewood 41, 0.
Loddon Valley FNL netball ladders after nine rounds:
A-reserve:
Bridgewater 123 per cent, 28 points; Pyramid Hill 132, 26; Marong 140, 24; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 113, 20; Mitiamo 113, 18; Newbridge 115, 14; Calivil United 100, 10; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 58, 4; Inglewood 43, 0.
B-grade:
Bridgewater 181 per cent, 32 points; Marong 133, 28; Newbridge 127, 24; Pyramid Hill 118, 18; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 101, 18; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 95, 12; Inglewood 68, 4; Mitiamo 67, 4; Calivil United 63, 4.
B-reserve:
Bridgewater 155 per cent, 32 points; Pyramid Hill 147, 28; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 141, 24; Newbridge 109, 20; Marong 116, 12; Inglewood 96, 12; Calivil United 85, 12; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 55, 4; Mitiamo 46, 0.
17-and-under:
Bridgewater 213 per cent, 28 points; Calivil United 166, 28; Marong 158, 24; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 149, 24; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 77, 16; Pyramid Hill 66, 12; Mitiamo 68, 8; Inglewood 52, 4; Newbridge 47, 0.
15-and-under:
Calivil United 356 per cent, 32 points; Marong 208, 28; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 121, 24; Bridgewater 132, 20; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 96, 14; Inglewood 66, 12; Pyramid Hill 80, 10; Mitiamo 38, 4; Newbridge 36, 0.
13-and-under:
Newbridge 421 per cent, 32 points; Marong 154, 24; Maiden Gully YCW Eagles 130, 24; Calivil United 131, 16; Pyramid Hill 69, 16; Inglewood 80, 12; Bridgewater 84, 8; Bears-Lagoon Serpentine 52, 8; Mitiamo 28, 4.