Sport
31 July, 2026
An outsider and the top three
WITH three rounds to go in Loddon Valley, the race for the Manly Cup is starting to look a lot clearer.
WITH three rounds to go in Loddon Valley, the race for the Manly Cup is starting to look a lot clearer.
Bridgewater flexed its muscles against Maiden Gully last week with a massive win, and with Marong and Pyramid Hill having solid wins against their respective oppositions, it’s looking like a three-horse race, with Inglewood maybe an outside chance at long odds.
This week’s games see Bridgewater at home to Mitiamo, and this will probably be a one-sided affair with the Mean Machine in cruise control to get the job done.
Pyramid hosts the Bears, who had a solid win over Newbridge last week, but it’s hard to see the Dogs letting this game slip at home at thge Kennel with finals’ positions still at stake.
Newbridge gets the Panthers, who will travel west among the Wimmera Highway to tranquil Riverside Oval to do battle with a Maroons’ side which has quite a few injury worries with their senior 18 testing the club’s depth.
Marong will be too strong in this game and will secure the four points.
Macorna is hosting the Calivil Demons at the Tigers Den and need to win to give them some breathing space in the chase for the finals in their first Loddon Valley season. Macorna at home will be too strong for a young Demons outfit showing a bit of spirit late in the season.
Last game will be the game of the round, with fourth playing sixth.
Inglewood could, even should, finish Maiden Gully’s finals aspirations with a win at home.
The Eagles have to secure a win against a top four side if they are any chance of making a finals tilt.
It’s hard to see them doing that on the Blues’ home turf – the Woodies by two goals.
- GLENN CATTO
Read More: Loddon Shire