SYC’s inter-club rivals will both chase the minor premiership on the final day of the season.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Shepparton Youth Club’s Blue contingent is bringing the fight to its Yellow inter-club rival, with the Goulburn Valley Hockey Association men’s minor premiership title chase set to go down to the wire.
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SYC Blue made no mistake of closing the gap on first place last time out, dispatching of the Shepparton Strikers Blue in an impressive 5-1 triumph to remain in touching distance of the frontrunners.
They followed this up with another assured performance in round 13 on August 15, sealing a 4-1 win against the Shepparton Strikers Red to set up what promises to be a compelling end to the home-and-away season.
This result represented a hammer blow for the Reds at this late stage of the term - as they surrendered their place at the top of the standings to fall to third.
Three points adrift of top spot, only a win will do for them against SYC Yellow if they are to stand a chance of snatching the title from their next opponents in round 14.
The Strikers Red would also still require SYC Blue to drop points against Echuca-Moama next week to leapfrog the top-two and claim the championship via a superior win ratio.
Meanwhile, the Yellows faced off against the Shepparton Strikers Blue looking to reinforce their championship credentials and showed seldom signs of pressure as they recorded a convincing 6-1 win.
The victors’ advantage at the summit sits precariously at just two points over the Blues, meaning that it will be all to play for in the tussle for the minor premiership crown on August 22.
SYC Men Blue's Iain Greg will be hopeful of seizing the title from the Yellows’ grasps.
Photo by
Jazzy Johal
Elsewhere, Echuca-Moama took a major step towards qualification for the finals with a crucial 4-2 win over Mooroopna on the road - meaning they sit in fourth place courtesy of a superior win ratio over the Strikers Blue in fifth.
Goulburn Valley Grammar’s fate was also confirmed in their absence during their bye week - with a gap of eight points separating them from a finals spot with one game left to play.
In the GVHA Women’s League, first-placed Mooroopna continued its march through the division with an emphatic 7-0 win over SYC, while Echuca-Moama claimed a 4-1 victory over the Shepparton Strikers.
With two games left of the home-and-away season, the Cats will go into finals as minor premiers, while the River Rats have also secured second place, as the Strikers and SYC will go into the semi’s as third and fourth seeds, respectively.
