Taking on second-placed Tongala was always going to be a tough ask for seventh-placed Rochester and it couldn’t flip the script on this occasion, going down in all three rinks for a final score of 16-70 to 0-34.
Skip Richard Feuk and his squad of Graham Willis (lead), Kaye Barker (second) and Robert Clayton (third) came closest, losing out narrowly 20-18 to Tongala skip Matthew Liverton.
Rochy skips Kevin Hall (11-21) and John Weeks (5-29) also suffered losses to Tongala counterparts Barry and Bradley Tinning respectively.
Tongala, who needed the win to stay ahead of Mathoura, will now move on to face Moama in the qualifying semi-final.
Mathoura and Deniliquin will battle in an elimination final.
In division two Rochester was unable to get past Deni RSL, falling 16-72 to 0-42 in a match where Rochy skip Graeme Chambers almost scored a rink win, being edged 20-21.
In division three, there was further disappointment for Rochester as it went down 14-75 to 2-49 against Echuca, with David Murray skipping the lone win for Rochy.
Elmore secured a single rink against Deniliquin but lost 14-60 to 2-53, while Lockington lost all three encounters to go down 16-73 to 0-51 against Stanhope.
Division four saw Lockington score victory over Kyabram 14-59 to 2-46, with skips Neil Haines and John Andrea picking up wins.
In division five, Rochester and Elmore duked it out with Elmore emerging on top 14-53 to 0-30, while Lockington won both rinks against Echuca for a 14-40 to 0-30 victory.
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