They say winning form is good form and ahead of a crucial fortnight that is exactly what Tatura-Hill Top needed as the Allan Matheson Shield campaign continues to heat up.
The Bulldogs claimed back-to-back victories on Saturday with a 16-shot triumph over Mooroopna on the road.
Mooroopna was able to pinch one rink win during the round five encounter, however, it was a clinical performance on the remaining three rinks for the guests as Tatura-Hill Top skipped away to clinch a 16-104 to 2-88 win.
Saturday’s 16 points keeps the pressure on the Bulldogs’ rivals inside the top four.
The combined outfit now has three wins from five attempts and sits four points behind fourth.
Tatura-Hill Top selector Brendan Boyd said the playing group knew it was important to string another win together before the Bulldogs take on last year’s reigning grand finalists.
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Focused: Tatura-Hill Top's Seth Tziros. Photo by Megan FisherImage 2 of 12
Line it up: Mooroopna's Josh Warren. Photo by Megan FisherImage 3 of 12
Keeping close watch: Mooroopna's Laurie Benson and Tatura-Hill Top's Mark Bentley. Photo by Megan FisherImage 4 of 12
Down low: Mooroopna's Darren Kelly. Photo by Megan FisherImage 5 of 12
On the mat: Tatura-Hill Top's Tom Crawford. Photo by Megan FisherImage 6 of 12
In the zone: Mooroopna's Josh Warren. Photo by Megan FisherImage 7 of 12
Lock and load: Mooroopna's Laurie Benson. Photo by Megan FisherImage 8 of 12
In deep thought: Tatura-Hill Top's Peter Le Sueur. Photo by Megan FisherImage 9 of 12
Soft touch: Tatura-Hill Top's Mitch Reeves. Photo by Megan FisherImage 10 of 12
Watch it closely: Mooroopna's Bruce Robson. Photo by Megan FisherImage 11 of 12
Working his magic: Tatura-Hill Top's Jason Carter. Photo by Megan FisherImage 12 of 12
Line it up: Tatura-Hill Top's Mark Bentley. Photo by Megan Fisher“It was pretty crucial for us to get the points. It helps keep us in touch of those top teams,” Boyd said.
“Our goal is to play finals and we knew, with a couple of tough big games in front of us against Golf and Kyabram, we needed to win that yesterday to give us momentum.
“Got a couple of tough tests coming up, so we need to keep that same effort.”
It was a pleasing performance for the visitors with a couple of young inexperienced heads stepping up into important roles and performing well.
Seth Tziros was thrust into skipping a rink, in the absence of coach Scott Adams, while Mitch Reeves played a starring role as lead.
The pair’s exploits, along with fellow rink members Darryn Carpenter and Justin Spedding, caught the eye of Boyd.
The quartet claimed a 27-20 triumph over Paul Warren’s rink.
“Seth Tziros stepped up to skip for the first time and his team did really well, he’s a young 20-year-old, Mitch Reeves was another who did a great job as lead,” he said.
“That was really key for us, to get those younger boys that experience. Scotty was away and for a couple of young fellas to step up and do really well, it was really pleasing to see actually.”
Around the greens, Shepparton Golf won the top-of-the-table clash against Tallygaroopna.
Golf flexed its muscles at home in the twilight contest and ran away to a 16-102 to 2-91 victory.
Elsewhere, Kyabram bounced back with a comfortable win over a determined East Shepparton.
The Bombers were made to work hard under their home lights on Friday night and clinched a 12-shot win.
Ash Williamson and Peter Dunning gave the Eagles four vital points, while Josh Cartwright’s rink performed superbly to claim an important 29-18 win.
Lastly, Euroa pushed Shepparton Park all the way at home, but ultimately suffered a nine-shot loss.
The home side drew a rink and claimed a win, while the visitors did enough on the remaining two rinks to pencil in a gritty 15-100 to 3-91 win.