NEWBRIDGE has advanced to a second semi-final showdown against Mitiamo after defeating Pyramid Hill by 16 goals in Saturday’s qualifying final.
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The reigning premiers’ victory was set up in the opening quarter when they skipped away to a 12-7 lead.
The margin was the same at half time and nine goals at three quarter time before the Maroons put their foot down in the final term to win 49-33.
It was Newbridge’s third win this season against Pyramid Hill and easily the Maroon’s biggest.
They won by five goals in round one and by two goals in round 10.
The Maroons’ victory sets up a second semi-final encounter against top side Mitiamo at Newbridge next Saturday.
Winning coach Kristy Shay said the win was built on solid contributions from all eight players who took to the court.
“To start off we had everyone fit going into the game and had a full squad available,” she said.
“We really stuck to our game plan and came away with a good win.
“The first couple of minutes were pretty even, but we stamped our authority pretty early in the game and had a nice little buffer at quarter time.”
The Maroons were strong across the court, with Amy Jackman and Megan Jennings tenacious in defence, Danielle Wiegard and Danielle Dillon excelling the midcourt and Tara Henkel and Jane Reid combing well in the goal ring.
Shay believed Henkel’s move from goal shooter to goal attack after half time was pivotal to the result.
The first-year coach is now looking forward to a clash against the Superoos, a team the Maroons have lost to twice this season.
“There’s still a lot we can improve on,” Shay said.
“But the fact that we identified that we needed a four-quarter effort and to stick to our game plan no matter what they threw at us, we were real pleased with the win.”
The Bulldogs’ cause was not helped after one player was sent off for two minutes in the final quarter following a pair of cautions.
The loss thrusts Pyramid Hill into a cut-throat semi-final against Calivil United, which upset Bridgewater 52-50 in Sunday’s elimination final at Calivil.
Bridgewater went into the match as favourites after beating the Demons twice during the season, including as recently as July 17, but it was the Demons who shone.