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Allan Matheson Shield | Mooroopna and East Shepparton set to do battle in ‘must-win’ clash
Although there’s still three rounds remaining in the Goulburn Valley Playing Area Allan Matheson Shield season, this weekend’s action has the potential to decide which team is relegated to division two.
Mooroopna, which is still yet to win a match this season, simply must break its division one duck on Saturday as it welcomes seventh-placed East Shepparton to its home green.
Having won two games this season, a win this weekend would ensure the Eagles do not get relegated, as they prepare for clashes against top-two sides Kyabram and Shepparton Golf to finish their campaign.
But if you look at the form-line of the two sides this season, there is a case to be made that the Cats should enter this clash a favourite, with their continual improvement during the season troubling some of the competition’s top teams.
Seemingly due for its first win, Mooroopna weekend pennant manager Darren Kelly said this was as close to a “must-win” game as there was.
“This is our biggest game of the season, our form recently has been pretty good, so hopefully that can translate to a win this weekend,” Kelly said.
“The improvement over the year has been really good from some of our younger bowlers, so it would be great reward for all our guys to finally get that win.
“We have a big last three weeks where I think we are a chance in each game, so hopefully we can be competitive and get ourselves out of that relegation spot.
“If we don’t win this weekend, however, there is no hope of getting off the bottom.”
The second meeting between the two teams this season, East got the better of the Cats in round six, claiming a 12-shot win on its home green.
This time around they will playing on grass instead of the carpet the Eagles thrive on, which was something Kelly said his team would be able to exploit.
“Being on grass definitely helps us, last time playing at their place they really got the better of us on the carpet, they are a really good team on that surface,” he said.
“We don’t take too much from that last game, I think we are a much better team now than we were back in round six, and at our place I’m confident we can take it right up to them.”
For East on the other hand it has been tough going since the Christmas break.
Coming up against Tatura-Hill Top, Shepparton Park and Tallygaroopna, the Eagles have not come within 35 shots of an opponent, which does not bode well for this trip to Mooroopna.
But for weekend pennant manager Kevin Cox, spirits are high as his team sees this as an opportunity to get back on the winners’ list.
“We go into this match like every match, there is a 50-50 chance we either win or lose,” Cox said.
“Our number one goal at the moment is to finish the year off strong and stay ahead of Mooroopna in seventh spot.
“We head across to their place confident we have what it takes to get the job done this weekend.”
Elsewhere, Shepparton Park will be desperate to prove it is able to mix it with the best as it hosts ladder-leader Shepparton Golf.
Tallygaroopna will be keen to keep its hot form rolling as it faces off against a struggling Stanhope.
Meanwhile, Kyabram rounds out the weekend’s action with a clash against Tatura-Hill Top.