Picture perfect: Tallygaroopna’s Terry Leigh-White.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
They say preliminary final weekend is the most exciting on the sporting calendar and in the Goulburn Valley Playing Area it certainly delivered with a number of clashes going down to the wire on greens across the region.
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In division two, Shepparton Golf joined its Allan Matheson Shield side in the decider, triumphing over Shepparton Park 14-99 to 4-87 in a spine-tingling encounter at Stanhope Bowls Club.
Concentration: Tallygaroopna’s Brandon Baldwin.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Desperate to bounce back after a shock semi-final loss to Mooroopna Golf, Golf quickly found itself locked in a fierce battle as the Park bowlers came out with an attacking freedom.
But just as it seemed like another upset could be in the cards, Richard Warburton stood up in rink four, producing a standout performance that turned the game in the minor premier’s favour.
Walking in with the bowl: Shepparton Park’s Ron Hartley.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Partnered by Trevor Dunlop, John Tucker and John Hastie, the group registered a pivotal 28-15 victory in what was the only rink decided by more than five shots.
For the Parkers Gavin Flanagan (26-22) and Phillip McCann (24-22) were the stars, doing all they could to get their team into a grand final, but it would be in vain as a tight triumph for Golf’s Robbie Betson (27-22) sealed the victory.
•Division three action had Tallygaroopna stun Shepparton Park 16-100 to 2-91 to join its division one team in the grand final.
Taking it all in: Shepparton Park’s Bill Gullick.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Coming off a 16-101 to 2-81 annihilation of Shepparton Golf in the semi-final, the Redlegs took that momentum into this clash, getting off to a fast start to establish a solid lead from the outset.
Peter Emanuelli’s rink two was particularly impressive, reeling off a dominant 31-19 win to put a major break between the two sides.
Park came back at Tally late, with a 30-22 win for Ron Holland in rink four potentially opening the door for a comeback, but it wasn’t to be as the Redlegs held their nerve to book a grand final date with Seymour this weekend.
Let it roll: Shepparton Park’s Vincent Mazzella.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
•Nagambie cruised into the division four decider with a dominant 16-107 to 2-76 win over Seymour at Euroa Bowls Club.
Dominant victories for Robert Page (36-13) and Wayne Page (33-11) set up the victory for the Lakers, who got away to a fast start and didn’t relent for the entire afternoon.
Hands on hips: Shepparton Park’s Ron Holland.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
A 27-11 triumph for Jan Wesselman in rink one would bring some joy to the Seymour camp, but all-in-all it was Nagambie’s day as focus quickly shifts to a grand final showdown with Seymour VRI.
•Mooroopna Golf won its way through to the division five grand final, knocking off the favoured Murchison 16-106 to 2-97 in a gripping contest at Tatura Bowls Club.
A dominant 36-14 victory for Lee Wakenshaw would be the catalyst for the Golf triumph, as it survived a late Tony Martin (34-13) surge from rink three to see off the talented Murchison squad.
Precision: Shepparton Park’s Wes Gibbs.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Mooroopna Golf will now face the daunting task of a red-hot Tallygaroopna side in what is set to be an intriguing grand final.
•Division six will have two enthralling grand final match-ups, with Cobinabbin knocking off Dookie 16-80 to 0-55 in the north to set up a meeting with Kyabram, while in the south Alexandra punched its ticket to the big dance with a clinical 14-87 to 2-46 win over Eildon 2.
