Bridgy fights Bears in semi

BRIDGEWATER will fight Bears-Lagoon Serpentine to stay in the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley FNL senior footy premiership race this Sunday.

The Mean Machine and Bears will contest the first semi-final at Pyramid Hill’s Mitchell Park.

Just as it did a year ago, Bridgewater won an elimination final.

Despite being beaten by Inglewood in both showdowns during the home-and-away series, Bridgewater KO’d the Blues hopes in a 22-point victory at Beck Legal Riverside Oval at Newbridge last Sunday.

Back after missing many weeks because of injury, Bridgewater captain Josh Martyn kicked five goals as Harry Donegan, Charlton Hindle and Lachlan Cohen were best.

Now the focus of the Rick Ladson-coached Mean Machine is on the Bears who will be determined to rebound from a 69-point loss to Pyramid Hill in last Saturday’s qualifying final.

The Justin Laird-coached BLS defeated Bridgewater by 40 and 24 points in the run to the finals.

After working hard to finish in third place and earn the double chance the Bears are now in a must-win scenario.

Semi-final weekend kicks off at Gadsden Finance Serpentine Reserve on Saturday when Marong takes on Pyramid Hill in the second semi.

Unbeaten in its pursuit of back-to-back premierships, Marong marked a seven-goal win in the fourth round against the Bulldogs at East West Oval in Marong’s Malone Park.

In round 13 the Linton Jacobs-coached Panthers won 124-4 on Pyramid Hill’s turf.

Massive test for the Nathan Fitzpatrick-coached Pyramid Hill to try and stop the Panthers’ run through midfield and plentiful supply to a powerful attack.

Key targets in Marong’s forward line are Brandyn Grenfell who has kicked 103 goals and the Panthers also have Kain Robins who’s booted 52 goals, Ryley Taylor on 44 and Matt Riordan with 36.

Superb effort by the Bulldogs to dominate after quarter-time of the qualifying final clash with Bears-Lagoon Serpentine.

Players to watch for Pyramid Hill include ruckman Lachlan Sidebottom, Brodie Carroll, Gavin James, Zach Alford, Steven Gunther and Dylan Morison.

For the winner it’s through to a grand final, while the defeated will meet Bears-Lagoon Serpentine or Bridgewater in the preliminary final on 2 September at Calivil.