Shepparton Golf tripped over a surprise hurdle at the weekend — so is the Goulburn Valley Playing Area Allan Matheson Shield up for grabs once again?
After an astonishing result at Euroa Bowls Club, Golf (7-1) finds its previously assumed stranglehold on pole position in a genuine sense of jeopardy.
Euroa (3-5), for its part, accomplished a feat that Kyabram’s Brent Reiner last week said only two other teams — his and Tallygaroopna — would be capable of producing, knocking off Golf, 15-91 to 3-88.
Shepparton Park (5-3) represents half of this week’s featured affair, set to take on third-placed Tallygaroopna (6-2) in an “away” clash at Shepparton Park Bowls Club.
Park failed to capitalise on Golf’s slip-up down south, with its western road trip ending in a 12-shot defeat to Kyabram (6-2) last weekend.
Meanwhile, offensive juggernaut Tallygaroopna has rebounded strongly following a tough defeat of its own to Kyabram in round six.
By getting the job done last time out against Tatura-Hill Top (3-5), another win streak is now under way.
In that light, Park’s Paul Becroft is well aware of the challenge his charges will meet on Saturday.
“With their greens out of action, we train next to Tally and we know what to expect from them because their best three or four have played for Victoria,” Becroft said.
“We’ve made a couple of changes, but we’ve had Jeff Boyle’s team win five or six rinks in a row.
“Hopefully we’ll get our team settled. We’ve had one team that’s struggled nearly every game, but we’ve rebuilt it for this match.”
Becroft has identified considerable turnover within Tallygaroopna’s senior ranks, noting repeated skip changes throughout the campaign.
However, this does not appear to be an isolated situation.
“People might not be as keen as they used to be,” Becroft said.
“Once upon a time division one was the be-all and end-all of bowls, but people are struggling to fill teams from the top down.
“They have some pretty handy bowlers, but we’ve changed things up as well and we’ll see what happens.”
In the event of victory, Becroft’s side would significantly close the gap on Tallygaroopna and could find itself in contention with Kyabram for second as well, pending results elsewhere.
Although, if another upset at the top occurs, could Park dare to dream of making a genuine play at first place?
Not so fast, says Becroft.
“What we want to do is get into the four and we might be lucky to finish second,” Becroft said.
“Anything can happen in finals, but you have to get there first.
“We have four games after Christmas that are must-win and I’m sure the bowling gods will have something to say.”
Mooroopna (2-6) will be next in line to welcome Golf to its confines, with a view of fourth-placed Park becoming increasingly distant.
Two sides on season-defining losing streaks meet elsewhere on Saturday as East Shepparton (0-8) entertains Tatura-Hill Top.
Rounding off round nine action, Euroa has the chance to slay giants at home in consecutive weeks when Kyabram comes to town.
ˑ Meanwhile, Goulburn Murray Bowls Region rubber-stamped its status as the wider area’s premier outfit on Sunday.
Goulburn Murray squared off against its country rival Ovens and Murray, leaving Yarrawonga Mulwala Bowls Club with a pair of victories to rhapsodise about.
The women scored a white-knuckled 40-38 win, with Kris Wright’s eight-shot result in the second rink the highlight.
In the men’s, Goulburn Murray scored three out of four rink wins to seal a 56-38 triumph.
David Daws skipped the region to a 19-8 victory in the third set of ends, while Brad Orr’s quartet sealed an equally impressive nine-shot win in the opening exchange.