General News
25 July, 2024
Jake pegs hurt Sharp
By GARY WALSH BRIDGEWATER’S hopes of a top-three finish and a double chance in the Loddon Valley football league hang by a thread after the Mean Machine was blown away – almost literally – by Bears Lagoon Serpentine last Saturday. A ferocious...
By GARY WALSH
BRIDGEWATER’S hopes of a top-three finish and a double chance in the Loddon Valley football league hang by a thread after the Mean Machine was blown away – almost literally – by Bears Lagoon Serpentine last Saturday.
A ferocious crosswind roared across Serpentine’s home ground all afternoon, and the Bears handled the conditions much better than their opponents, streaking away to an 82-point win.
With Bridgewater’s century goalkicker Lachlan Sharp clearly still feeling the effects of a corked thigh sustained two weeks ago and held to a single goal by close-checking Serp coach Jake Wilkinson, the Mean Machine were outclassed after quarter-time.
Wingman James Bailey was exceptional for the winners, with his precise kicking and sure hands something to behold on such a wild weather day.
He was well supported by midfielder Doolan Nihill and ruckman Nathan Twigg, who gave the Bears first use all afternoon.
Harry McKinley and Lachlan Cohen were best for Bridgewater, which was outscored 13.11 to 1.5 after the first break.
The Mean Machine are now a game and percentage behind the Bears, with another huge task confronting them this weekend when they face ladder leaders Marong.
If the top three seems settled, Inglewood’s agonising one-point loss to Maiden Gully sees their finals hopes all but ended.
The Blues stormed home in the last quarter with the wind, outscoring the Eagles 4.5 to nil, but they paid the price for a scoreless opening quarter after which they trailed by 31 points.
Inglewood is seventh on the ladder with three wins from 12 matches, and ahead of Maiden Gully only by virtue of the Eagles’ 12-point deduction before the season began.
The round’s other two games were heavily one-sided affairs, with top sides Marong and Pyramid Hill dominating Calivil United and Mitiamo respectively.
Calivil’s 113-point loss cost them important percentage in the race for fifth spot on the ladder, which now is a race between them and Newbridge, who had the bye.
Bottom side Mitiamo could only manage three behinds for the game against Pyramid Hill, which won by 122 points as a tough season continues.