The Goorambat Bats took on local rivals the Benalla All Blacks in a heated local derby at The Friendlies Reserve in Benalla on Saturday.
The Bats went into the match against the Panthers heavy favourites, given their respective ladder positions will see Goorambat play finals and Benalla take the wooden spoon.
The vast difference between the two sides had been on show in round eight, when the Bats walked away 138-point victors.
Straight out of the blocks, the Panthers ensured the return fixture would be a more even match-up and by the end of the first quarter trailed only by a goal.
The Bats began to take flight in the second quarter and took a three-goal lead into half-time.
To the shock and surprise of all present at Friendlies, the Panthers began to claw their way back after the break and with only 10 points between the two sides at three-quarter time, all was to play for.
A four goal to none final quarter by Goorambat, however, broke the Panthers’ will and secured the Bats an elimination final spot against Milawa on Sunday, August 25, at Tarrawingee.
Goorambat best players: Sully Malay (Peter Davis Rural), Ben Reaburn (Goorambat Railway Hotel), Alex Moloney (Hollywood’s Pizza), Charles Hunter (The Royal Hotel), James Webster (Hollywood’s Pizza), Sam Gladstone (Royal Hotel Award).
Benalla All Blacks best players:
David Button, David Nero, Chelton Orchard, Sam Cox, Tyson Ryan and Ryan Nedeljkovic.