The Red contingent came into the clash at Shepparton Hockey Complex on June 27 with something of a point to prove after falling to a 4-3 defeat at the hands of Shepparton Youth Club (SYC) Yellow in the previous round.
Before that, the side in red had strung together an impressive run of victories including a 12-0 demolition job over Mooroopna (MHC), a 7-0 drubbing of Goulburn Valley Grammar (GVGS) and a 5-0 derby win over Strikers Blue.
However, it appeared that their inter-club rivals were in no mood to allow their Strikers counterparts to do the double over them this time around as they proved the brighter of the two sides following a bye week.
In a result that will have reverberated around the grounds, the Blues earned a stunning 4-3 victory to remain in touching distance of the league summit - blowing the race wide open in the process.
SYC Yellow has been an immovable frontrunner in the premiership spoils but even they showed fallibility in week eight, dropping points for the first time this term after a thrilling draw away at Echuca College.
After making the trip down the highway, the Yellows had to settle for a share of the spoils on the road after Echuca Moama held the ladder leaders to a shock 2-2 draw.
This result was particularly impressive, considering the GVHA pacesetters had defeated the River Rats 7-0 earlier in the season.
In the other battle in the round, SYC Blue continued its recent purple patch with another victory, this time prevailing 7-0 over GVHS to provide another plot twist in the chase for the title.
In the women’s seniors draw, unbeaten Mooroopna claimed a 2-1 win away at Echuca Moama as their domination of the division continues.
Boasting a 100 per cent record in the competition this season, this latest victory means that the all-conquering MHC’s campaign is quickly turning into a procession to the title.
Meanwhile, the Strikers earned all three points against SYC following a 4-0 triumph, as they bounced back from a draw in the previous week in the best possible way.
