‘‘Underdog’’ is not a term many would use to describe Goulburn Valley Playing Area powerhouse Shepparton Golf, but that’s exactly how the newly-crowned division two midweek pennant team manager Darryl Bailey labelled his premiership-winning outfit.
Golf pulled off an incredible upset victory over Shepparton Park in Tuesday’s title bout and chalked up an emphatic 16-98 to 0-55 triumph.
Shepparton Golf and grand finals go together like cheese and wine and the second tier team made sure that was the case in the decider.
But the premiership-winning outfit shouldn’t have made it.
Golf snuck into finals by the narrowest of margins thanks to its two points in a final-round loss to Tallygaroopna, which kept the Golfers one point ahead of fifth-placed East Shepparton.
Luck was on their side and after a thrilling finals campaign and an incredible grand final victory, fate seemed to be as well.
“It was very interesting, we only got into finals by one point. Since then we’ve been on a good run,” Bailey said.
“We’ve all got to the big stage, given it our best and gone through the motions.
“They might have taken it a bit easier, with us being the underdog.
“I’ve seen them bowl better, they didn’t bowl as well today as what they normally would have.”
Golf entered the contest a rank outsider.
Shepparton Park defied the ladder-leader Kyabram en route to its grand final appearance and even brushed aside Shepparton Golf twice in the regular season.
However, grand finals are different beasts.
Golf’s John Dagger got the side off to a cracking start and won his rink 32-21.
Teammate Frank Ivak (37-10) blew away his opposition in a sublime performance, while Daryl Fallon (29-24) edged out Kelvin Rogash to ensure Golf clean-swept the rinks.
“I think just playing together and keeping each other encouraged (was the difference),” Bailey said.
“Everyone played a superb game today and I couldn’t fault them. I couldn’t be any prouder.”