IF LAST Saturday was the entrée, Loddon Valley netball fans are in for a spectacular main course in the finals.
Mitiamo edged out Pyramid Hill 59-57 in a thrilling top-of-the-table A-grade netball clash, with the result all but securing the Superoos the minor premiership.
They basically hold a two-game advantage over second-placed Pyramid Hill and look set to advance straight to the second semi-final.
“We were very happy to get the four points, it was a tough game,’’ a relieved Mitiamo coach Abbey Battersby said.
“Pyramid Hill made a great start and we were down by four at quarter-time. We had a good second quarter to cut it (the margin) back to one at half-time.
“We managed to get the lead in the third quarter and we held on to win by two. The scores were level with a couple of minutes to go, but we managed to get a couple of key turnovers.
“Everyone was up and about after the game, but at the same time they were exhausted. It was really nice to come away with a win in such a tight game like that.”
The Superoos were led superbly by goal attack Laura Hicks, while Carly Scholes was efficient at goal shooter.
In her first season as coach of the Superoos, Battersby is yet to taste defeat.
The Superoos’ mentor was quick to deflect the attention away from her coaching.
“The girls are so easy to coach and we’ve had the same girls the last few years, so that’s made it a lot easier to coach,’’ she said.
“The club is so supportive. I don’t do much at all, the girls know what they’re doing and I’m just the person with the official (title).”
With that defeat, Pyramid Hill has Bridgewater and Newbridge closing in on second place.
Brigewater consolidated third spot on the back of a 75-31 win over bottom side Inglewood, while fourth-placed Newbridge produced a defensive masterclass in its 53-19 demolition of MGYCW.
Bridgewater and Newbridge are both on 28 points – eight points behind Pyramid Hill.
Marong rounds out the top five on 24 points. The Panthers outclassed Calivil United 83-51 last round.
The Panthers will get a better indication of where they sit in the pecking order when they host Bridgewater in the match of the round this Saturday.
While the Panthers have been competitive in games against fellow top-five teams this season, they’re yet to defeat one of the big guns of the competition.
- ADAM BOURKE