Allan Matheson Shield | Tallygaroopna ends reign of Golf with dominant grand final performance

It was Tallygaroopna’s third premiership of the 2021-22 season after its division three and five sides saluted in grand finals on Saturday.

From Liam Crapper curbing the influence of Golf superstar Brad Orr in rink two, to Mitch Sidebottom inspiring a monumental second-half comeback in rink four and Mark Ryan constantly keeping Brett Foley at bay in rink one, there was a plethora of storylines arise as the Redlegs soared to victory.

Tallygaroopna skip Ryan was lost for words after the victory.

“I reckon we have always been a really big chance (to knock off Golf), we have always had the cattle but might not have had the belief in ourselves — it has taken a whole season to get that belief,” he said.

“Our front ends were just superb, leads and seconds were dynamite with guys like Scott Adams setting us up, we just did the job all day, everyone contributed and we are just so happy to have come away with the win.”

Blue skies and warm conditions greeted players at Shepparton Park as they took to the immaculately maintained green for what promised to be an epic grand final contest.

With front end pressure a major point of focus for Tallygaroopna heading into the match, the Redlegs leads and seconds started brightly, opening up a number of opportunities for their skips to capitalise.

While Tally came out of the gates hot, Golf wasn’t backing down from the challenge, as the teams traded blows through an intriguing first two hours of bowls.

As the game sat evenly poised with 50 ends to play, Tally made its move after the break to put the Golf juggernaut under pressure.

Herculean efforts from skips Crapper and Ryan in the first two rinks limited the influence of Shepparton Golf stars Orr and Foley, while Joey Lia thrilled the crowd with some clutch rolls to see the Redbacks nine shots clear with 20 ends to play.

With the game well and truly up for grabs, it was Mitch Sidebottom who stood up for the Redlegs.

Bowling with the Tally faithful in raptures behind him, he turned the game on its head, coming away with a 21 to 19 win after trailing by eight shots at smoko.

Emotions quickly spilled over as the match went into the final 10 ends, with Tallygaroopna Football Netball Club and Northerners Cricket Club members joining in the celebrations as the match came to an end.

“There was a lot of support out there today and we loved every bit of it, all the sporting members at Tallygaroopna feed of this sort of stuff and it just a great community out there,” Ryan said.

“From seeing all the green and red here today to seeing our other two sides win flags yesterday, we just grew wings.”

Forever known as the team that brought Shepparton Golf’s premiership winning streak to an end, Ryan was full of admiration for Orr and the entire squad and what it had achieved over so many years.

“They are a quality outfit and nobody is going to repeat that record, it is pretty crazy to think any team could do that (win in six in a row),” he said.

“We are just elated to have won one, our very first Allan Matheson Shield at Tallygaroopna and I am just so proud of everyone at the club.”