Shepparton Golf pinched a two-shot victory against Tallygaroopna in Allan Matheson Shield action at the weekend after being well behind early.
Last season’s Goulburn Valley Playing Area top-tier grand finalists locked horns once more at Shepparton Golf on Saturday and for much of the contest it was the Redlegs who controlled proceedings.
But the Golfers found wind in their collective sails to storm home for a 13-96 to 5-94 triumph.
It puts Brett Foley’s charges in the box seat for all-but-certainly another minor premiership — sitting 17 points clear of second spot — and they cannot drop out of the double chance positions ahead of the post season.
Kris Ferguson’s rink of Brett Gunning (third), Neville Manton (second) and Geoff Cobbledick (lead) was the only victor for the Golfers, taking a 30-23 triumph over Mark Ryan.
Foley and Tallygaroopna’s Mitch Sidebottom shared points on their rink in a 19-all result, while David Daws (28-25 over John Gribble) and Adrian Pantling (24-22 over Brad Orr) claimed victories on their respective rinks for the Redlegs.
East shines under Friday night lights
East Shepparton almost pulled off the upset of the season to slam the door shut on any relegation talk, taking it right up to Kyabram under the bright lights of a Friday battle in round 14.
Even though the Eagles were ultimately unsuccessful in their quest for overall victory, the three rink wins they managed in an 89-6 to 96-12 defeat should be enough for them to finish second-last, with just a rescheduled round nine remaining.
Peter Dunning (28-20), Warren Bovell (25-20) and Jack Spencer (23-16) stood tall for the home side under the roof of its carpet green, but a 40-13 shellacking from Kyabram’s David Cartwright gave the Bombers the inside running for a double chance — now eight points clear of the Redlegs.
Bulldogs bite back
Tatura-Hill Top claimed a finals-bound scalp on Saturday, snaring a 15-shot win over Shepparton Park.
Brendon Boyd’s massive 34-13 rink win had the Bulldogs roaring, with Peter Le Sueur (23-20) and Paul Newman (31-18) also on a victory lap after the clash.
Paul Nichols banked two points for the Parkers in a 37-15 triumph.
Steadfast Stanhope
Stanhope secured its fourth win of the summer at the weekend, defeating Mooroopna 16-101 to 2-87.
The triumph keeps the side in fifth spot on the table with one round to play in the regular season and, while the gap to fourth is unassailable, the side will take heart if it can hold on to the title of ‘‘best of the rest’’ this season.
James Stokes (27-23), Ben Fletcher (24-15) and Greg Fitzpatrick (27-19) did the damage for the home side at Stanhope, while Darren Kelly’s 30-23 rink win kept the Cats within 13 points of the Eagles and in with a chance of getting off the foot of the table this week.