The Goulburn Valley Playing Area Allan Matheson Shield’s top three sides are almost inseparable after 11 rounds of action.
As Shepparton Golf, Tallygaroopna and Kyabram start to resemble the opening scene from Cars in their desperate lunges across the line before finals the Bombers have taken the headlines for themselves.
In a massive galvaniser on the road at Shepparton Golf, Kyabram pulled off the big one — by one — in knocking over the ladder-leading Golf.
The stirring 16-81 to 2-80 result also makes Kyabram the only side in season 2023-24 to outclass Golf on its own greens.
The ninth win of the Bombers’ campaign — and competition-best seventh in a row — helps set up a tantalising grandstand finish in a three-way race for the double chance come finals time.
Three points separate Golf — clinging to top spot by bare threads after this setback — from Tallygaroopna, with Kyabram a point back from there.
Bombers coach Brent Reiner was thrilled with how the east was won.
“At the break, there were only four or five shots in it and I said to the guys that we’ve given ourselves a chance,” Reiner said.
“With 20 ends to go, we just wanted to be in the game.
“Josh Cartwright put us two up and Charlie Boswood played a blinder to help our rink go two up.
“Nobody celebrated too much, but it was good to get a win over Golf; if you take out the final last year, we always have close ones against them.
“It was pretty exciting. We just want to put ourselves in the right spot and get that second chance.”
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Down and away: Shepparton Golf's Ben Fletcher. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 2 of 9
Steady on: Kyabram's Rob George. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 3 of 9
Send it on: Shepparton Golf's Mackenzie Trewren. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 4 of 9
Along the green: Shepparton Golf's Garry Russell. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 5 of 9
Careful and precise: Shepparton Golf's Neville Manton. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 6 of 9
High rolling: Shepparton Golf's John Gribble. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 7 of 9
Moment to think: Kyabram's David Joseph Townsend. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 8 of 9
Analysis: Kyabram's Malcolm Williams. Photo by Rechelle ZammitImage 9 of 9
In the heat: Kyabram's Darren Boswood. Photo by Rechelle ZammitThis weekend began a three-week mini round-robin between the three leading contenders, with Golf set to meet Tallygaroopna this weekend.
Kyabram will meet East Shepparton and, understandably, the picture is optimistic for Reiner.
“We’ll be looking for maximum points next week and hopefully they have a really tight battle,” Reiner said.
“The following week (against Tallygaroopna) is another critical match for us, but we’ve put ourselves in a good spot.
“The teams we’re supposed to beat, you’ve got to win those games.
“I reckon Tally’s still the side to beat.”
As mentioned, Tallygaroopna also succeeded in Saturday’s pennant, though at a much more comfortable pace.
Mooroopna proved no match for its often-rampant adversary, falling 16-122 to 2-74 and capping a miserable run of defeats against the three top contenders in a row.
Beyond results at the top, Tatura-Hill Top and Shepparton Park remain embroiled in a near-inseparable tussle of their own for fourth place after both moved to 6-5 at the weekend.
Tatura-Hill Top all but ended what remained of Euroa's faint hopes to qualify, completing the season double in the process by taking the points 17-93 to 1-74.
Meanwhile, Shepparton Park proved too strong for an East Shepparton side running out of time to register its first win, eventually prevailing 16-109 to 2-72 in thumping fashion.