Bendigo Advertiser | PYRAMID Hill’s strong start to the game proved the catalyst for its six-point win over Bears Lagoon-Serpentine in the Loddon Valley Football League on Saturday.
The Bears outscored the Bulldogs in each of the last three quarters, but were unable to overhaul a 28-point deficit at the first change as Pyramid Hill won 13.11 (89) to 12.11 (83) at Mitchell Park.
The Bulldogs led 5.4 to 1.0 at quarter-time and while the Bears gradually chipped away at the deficit, were able to hold their lead for the rest of the match against the side they had lost the past two preliminary finals against.
“We played really well in the first quarter and were able to do just enough to hold them off in the end,” Pyramid Hill coach Paul Grayling said.
“Our turnovers today really hurt us, but I said to the boys after the game that it’s a good sign to be able to win ugly when things aren’t going your way... it builds a bit of character.”
The best player for the Bulldogs was defender Dylan Morison, while the midfield brigade including Michael Callinan, Jake Anderson and Bryden Morison also performed well.
Sam Kennedy, Paddy Monaghan, Balraj Singh, Fabian Brancatisano and Danzo Bzenic all kicked two goals for the Bulldogs, who reach the inter-league break 5-1.
The Bulldogs lost Grayling during the match with a rolled ankle.
The six-point defeat ended a three-game winning streak for the Bears, with their better players led by Jye Sandiford, who played defence and midfield, veteran onballer Nathan McNally and backmen James Rippingale and Trevor Johnson.
John McIntyre kicked three goals for the Bears.
• Newbridge recorded its second victory of the season with a 97-point hiding of Inglewood at home.
The Maroons prevailed 19.16 (130) to 5.3 (33) in a victory coach Matt Dillon hopes will be a springboard into the rest of the season for his side.
The Maroons were at their most dominant in the third quarter when they slammed on 9.5 to 2.0 to turn a 41-point lead at half-time into 88 at the last change.
“We got on top in the midfield in that third quarter and were able to win a lot of clearances,” Dillon said.
“The forwards worked well into the space and we got some reward on the scoreboard.”
The Maroons have been slow-starters this season - they had trailed at quarter-time in each of their first six games - but they got the jump on the Blues to lead by 21 points at the first break, 4.4 to 1.1.
For the third game in a row, midfielder Lachlan Ford (two goals) was named the best for the Maroons.
“He has been in super form and is playing really good footy for us,” Dillon said.
“He got a lot of attention today, but worked his way through that, and also won a lot of footy in close, which was important.”
Defender Ashley Grant in his second game back after a hip injury, wingman Callum Williamson (two goals) and Dylan Burt were other standouts for the Maroons.
The Maroons - who now have a 21-day break ahead of their next game against Pyramid Hill - had 12 goalkickers, led by David Carroll (four).
Inglewood was held to just one goal in the first half in what was the Blues’ fourth loss in a row.
Ben Rose, Ben Conley, Adam Filippi and captain Sam Williams were the pick of the players for the Blues.
• Marong overcame a goalless first quarter to defeat YCW by 36 points and even its ledger back at 3-3.
The Panthers kicked 11 goals to three after quarter-time to win 11.12 (78) to 5.12 (42) at home.
YCW led 2.6 to 0.2 at quarter-time in what was the second match in a row the Panthers didn’t kick a goal in the opening term.
“YCW came out firing early and we just couldn’t get our hands on the ball,” Marong coach Corey Gregg said.
“We were lucky they missed a few opportunities in front of goal and we were still in it at quarter-time.
“We focused on clawing our way back and just winning each stoppage after quarter-time and the work-rate of our midfielders really lifted and we were able to get the footy going our way.”
From 16 points down at quarter-time, by half-time the Panthers were 12 points in front and had grabbed the momentum, which they didn’t surrender.
Brett Rogers and Richard Tibbett kicked three goals for the Panthers, who suffered injury blows during the match to Matt Frecker (knee) and Nathan McNish (ankle).
Onballer Kyle Manley, Daryl Marshall across half-back, centre half-back Josh Griffin and forward Corbin Fleming led the Panthers’ best players.
YCW coach Murray Collins was disappointed the Eagles were unable to capitalise on their encouraging first term.
“We made a good start, but didn’t hit the scoreboard as much as we should have to put some pressure on them,” Collins said.
“When you’ve got all the ball like we did in that first quarter and don’t make the most of it, it’s bad footy and we gave them an opportunity to get back into it.”
Ryan Walker, who had the job of playing on Gregg, and the backline pair of Luke Rafferty and Jordan Crisp were good for the Eagles, who had Corey O’Brien injure an ankle in what was YCW’s seventh-consecutive loss against Marong.
• Eleven goals between Alex Galea and Brad Rohde helped Bridgewater to a 79-point win over Calivil United.
Playing the club whose LVFL premiership record of six in a row they are aiming to equal this year, the Mean Machine were comfortable 18.13 (121) to 6.6 (42) victors at Calivil.
Galea kicked six goals and Brad Rohde in his return from a hamstring injury bagged five to be the Mean Machine’s two best, while coach Andrew Collins and Callum Prest were also pivotal.
Wingmen Evan Ritchie and Sam Green and forward Jamie Nicholas were the Demons’ three best players.
“Bridgewater was very good today... they are well-drilled and moved the ball really well,” Demons coach Andrew Freemantle said.
“We battled hard all game, but they won the ball through the midfield and disposed of it clean and that was one of the big differences.”
The LVFL will now turn its attention to its inter-league game against Alberton at the QEO this Saturday.
