NEWBRIDGE bounced back to keep its Loddon Valley league season alive, while bringing the curtain down on Mitiamo’s 2017 campaign in Sunday’s first semi-final.
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The Maroons advanced to next weekend’s preliminary final against Calivil United with a 49-point victory, 16.13 (109) to 8.12 (60).
Playing at Bridgewater, Newbridge gained the upper hand during a 12-minute period in the second term when it turned a three-point deficit into a 30-point lead.
Between the eight and 20-minute marks of the quarter the Maroons slammed on 5.3 to 0.0 as they belted Mitiamo out of the centre and constantly cut off the Superoos’ attacking forays across half-back.
The momentum-shifting period started with Jordan Gilboy judging the wind to perfection to nail a tough set-shot kick in the pocket.
That was followed by goals to captain Brad Comer, Kai Cavallaro, Edward Coulthard and another to their best player, Gilboy, courtesy of a 100m penalty as the Superoos lost their way.
A late goal to outgoing Mitiamo coach Justin Maddern, who was superbly contained by Tyler Romeril, cut the margin back to 23 points at half-time, 9.9 to 6.4.
The third quarter then became a tale of one team that took its opportunities and the other that didn’t.
The Superoos controlled the bulk of the play in their forward half, but they got no reward for effort on the scoreboard with a paltry return of 1.5.
Down the other end the Maroons kicked 4.0 to extend their advantage to 36 points at the final change.
Unlike last week against Bridgewater in the qualifying final there was no late fadeout by the Maroons, who finished with 3.4 to 1.3 in the final term to ensure they won all four quarters.
Earlier, Mitiamo made a flying start to the game, kicking the first three goals inside the opening 10 minutes through Jarad Webster, Jarryd Wiegard and Ash Benbow, but by quarter-time the Maroons had weathered the early storm to lead 4.6 to 3.2.
