Ashlyn Materne puts pressure on Lauren Pyke’s possession. Photos: Jordan Townrow.
After a round of clashes between finals sides last week, all three losers from the top six returned to the winners’ column again in round 15.
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The finals sides continue to jockey for position, and while the race to be in the post-season looks to be mostly sewn up, some late drama could still be on the cards.
The round
Lancaster 41 d Merrigum 35
Rushworth 54 d Girgarre 24
Stanhope 23 lt Nagambie 81
Murchison-Toolamba 43 lt Avenel 53
Tallygaroopna 52 d Longwood 14
Violet Town 23 lt Shepparton East 65
Undera bye
Cassie-Lee Westley reels in a tough pass.
Lancaster v Merrigum
Merrigum had been in a rich vein of form over the last month or so, coming into the clash at Lancaster Recreation Reserve with five consecutive wins under its belt.
That impressive surge was ended at the hands of contender Lancaster, the Wombats surviving a close-run contest 41-35.
The result is critical for Lancaster, who can take advantage of Nagambie’s bye next week to return to the top two.
Merrigum’s defeat introduced a little jeopardy to its finals push, with Avenel closing to within a game and a half with four rounds remaining.
Kacey Barlow moves it through midcourt.
Rushworth v Girgarre
In a special Sunday fixture, Rushworth was another top side to rebound after defeat the previous week, comfortably handling Girgarre at home.
The Roos couldn’t stack up at Rushworth Recreation Reserve, going down 54-24 and mathematically ending their faint finals hopes.
Bella Heggart sets to fire one-handed.
Rushworth moved back up into fourth place, with just a half game gap to fifth and sixth.
Girgarre declines to 5-9, sitting in eighth place.
Its prospects of moving up seem slim, the Roos hoping to hold on to what they have over the remaining rounds.
Sophie Pica shoots from deep.
Stanhope v Nagambie
Facing up to one of the league’s best, the lower-table Lions found themselves well-beaten at home.
A dominant Nagambie seized control from the opening whistle and romped to an 81-23 victory.
Sophie McDonald looks to claim the loose ball.
Stanhope sits in 11th place with a 3-10 record, while Nagambie is in second by percentage over Lancaster, but is giving up a game in hand to the Wombats.
In the other results, Tallygaroopna returned to winning ways after a fortnight of tough clashes, rolling through struggling Longwood 52-14 at home.
Lauren Pyke goes to work down low.
Avenel went on the road to Murchison-Toolamba and came away with the points 43-53, keeping the Swans in the finals hunt but with six points to make up over the final three weeks.
Leader Shepparton East cruised by Violet Town away, winning 65-23 and keeping its unbeaten record intact.
Ellie Walsh snares it ahead of Sophie Pica.
Bottom-placed Undera had the bye.
This week sees Lancaster likely to surge into the top two as it visits Longwood, while Rushworth has a difficult away assignment at Shepparton East.
Merrigum hosts Violet Town, while Stanhope will travel to Girgarre in a lower-table clash.
Montana Mylon shows creative passing.
Undera hosts Murchison-Toolamba in likely its last realistic opportunity to get a win on the board, while Tallygaroopna can end Avenel’s chances and lock in the current top six as it visits the Swans.
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