BEATEN in its past two games at home, Pyramid Hill faces a test in this Saturday’s eighth round of A-grade netball in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley Football Netball League season.
Pyramid Hill is back at Mitchell Park to face a Bridgewater line-up on the rebound from a 28-goal loss to Maiden Gully YCW Eagles.
It’s fifth against fourth as the Bulldogs and Mean Machine work to keep the heat on the third-placed Demons from Calivil United.
Winless in 2019, Pyramid Hill made a great start to this campaign as it beat Inglewood by 10 goals at Mitchell Park in round one and followed up with a 29-goal victory on Newbridge’s court.
A home-court loss to Calivil United in round three was followed by a 13-goal triumph at Marong.
Beaten 32-36 in its clash with Maiden Gully YCW at Mitchell Park in round five, Pyramid Hill then had a bye and was beaten 56-44 in the May 22 showdown with the unbeaten Mitiamo at John Forbes Oval.
Despite a topsy-turvy run, Pyramid Hill is a win and 19 per cent clear of Marong.
A loss to Bridgewater and a win by Marong would put Pyramid’s place in the top five in jeopardy.
Bridgewater has a win-loss record of 3-3 and will be desperate.
In the past three rounds Bridgewater was beaten by 21 goals in the clash with Calivil United at Bridgewater Bakehouse Oval, won by four goals at Marong, and thrashed at home by the Eagles.
Another big match will be at Simonds Home Riverside Park where Newbridge takes on Calivil United.
The Maroons broke their season duck in a 52-26 victory at Inglewood in round six.
Newbridge had the bye in round seven and will be keen to halt Calivil United’s streak.
The Demons have won their past two matches by margins of 21 and 40 goals.
Inglewood is back at Dissy Machinery Oval to take on Marong.
It will be a tough task for the Blues against a Panthers line-up which finished within four goals of Bridgewater in round six and then had a break.
The Panthers will be keen to close the gap to Pyramid Hill.
Bears Lagoon Serpentine hosts Maiden Gully YCW in lower grades at Serpentine, but the Eagles take a break in A-grade.
Mitiamo has the bye.
Standings in Loddon Valley FNL A-grade netball:
Mitiamo 135 per cent, 28 points; Maiden Gully YCW 113, 20; Calivil United 110, 16; Bridgewater 107, 16; Pyramid Hill 113, 12; Marong 94, 8; Newbridge 75, 8; Inglewood 51, 4.
Written by Nathan Dole.