BRIDGEWATER stands in the road of Mitiamo and a perfect first half of the Loddon Valley A Grade netball season.
The reigning premier Superoos go into Saturday’s round nine clash at Bridgewater with a 7-0 record after they saw off Marong last Saturday.
Mitiamo didn’t get everything its own way against the plucky Panthers, winning 61-51.
While the Superoos are 7-0, three of those seven wins have come by margins of 10 or less, which is some sort of encouragement for their rivals as they make the run towards September.
Fourth-placed Bridgewater heads into the clash with Mitiamo fresh from the bye.
Newbridge continues to turn heads in its quest for a top-three finish. For the second-straight game the Maroons showed nerves of steel in a tight contest to gain the four points.
After edging out Bridgewater by three goals in round seven, the Maroons held off Bears Lagoon Serpentine by four goals, 41-37, last Saturday to move ahead of the Mean Machine into third place on the ladder.
Newbridge’s grip on third place will be tested this Saturday when the Maroons travel to Malone Park to play fifth-placed Marong.
The Panthers’ best netball is good enough to challenge every team in the competition, so Newbridge could be on track for a third-straight thriller.
After last week’s narrow loss to Newbridge, Bears Lagoon Serpentine must get the four points against Calivil United this Saturday to stay in touch with the top five at the half-way mark.
With one win from seven games, including a 91-41 loss to Pyramid Hill last Saturday, the young Calivil United squad faces an enormous task to upset the Bears.
Pyramid Hill should consolidate second place on the ladder by defeating Maiden Gully at Marist College.
The Bulldogs are riding a four-game winning streak and will have too much class and depth for the rebuilding Maiden Gully.
The Eagles gave their confidence a timely boost when they outplayed bottom side Inglewood 53-21 last Saturday.
- ADAM BOURKE