The implications of the Cricket Shepparton Haisman Shield’s final day

For back-to-back seasons, Numurkah was the unfortunate son, but it’s clear revival has it sitting firmly inside the top six without chance of falling out, even if a round 11 loss occurs.

The current state of play has three clubs fighting for a spot inside the finals equation, with the PlayCricket app sure to have plenty of screen time at Tatura Park and Nagambie Recreation Reserve this Saturday.

As it stands, one of Tatura, Waaia or Nagambie will miss out on finals.

As the Bombers and Lakers face off in a do-or-die final round blockbuster, Tatura and Waaia’s paths meet indirectly this weekend, their stories colliding after a season that has been at polar ends of the scale.

A burst out the gates saw Tatura soar to 2-0 after comprehensive wins over Katandra and Pine Lodge, before being ousted by Karramomus in round three.

However, Tatura rolled with momentum into the Christmas break to sit at 5-2 to have the red, white and blue well-poised for back-to-back finals berths, before a treacherous run home has seen them defeat only Old Students in 2026.

On the other side, the reigning premiers have pulled themselves together from a long, long way back.

It looked inconceivable that the Bombers could return to form, let alone finals, but the talented crew that make up the A-grade side won’t die wondering.

Waaia succumbed early on to eventual non-finalists Mooroopna and Katandra and were forced a draw to SYCU due to wet conditions - a game the Bombers were well on track to win mind - all before Christmas.

Littered amongst those shock defeats though were the Bombers of old, including wins against likely home final ticket holders Central Park-St Brendan’s and Numurkah.

Waaia was dominant against Pine Lodge in the New Year return but its loss to Karramomus threw it chasing the top six again, however a round 10 win over Tatura placed it just three points behind the pack ahead of the final match.

As for Nagambie, it has been a season of ups and downs.

At the Christmas break, the Lakers were 4-3, with a healthy quotient keeping it inside finals calculations.

The 2024-25 runners-up finishers have shown their best in patches, with a score of 325 against the Tigers the highlight, but have lost to all other top six sides, save for Tatura.

As they play Waaia this weekend, a loss could spell the end of its chances at redemption - although it doesn’t guarantee such a fate.

This is the state of play, and what Waaia, Tatura and Nagambie all require to play finals in 2026.

For Waaia, it rolled Nagambie for 117 on day one, and requires 86 runs for victory with eight wickets in hand.

A win is all that the Bombers require, and will finish in fifth if Tatura lose, or sixth if Tatura win.

For the Lakers, defending its low score will be difficult, but if done, they’ll hold their fifth-place position.

A loss however, coupled with a Tatura win, will bundle the Lakers out of the top six, missing by three premiership points.

A Tatura loss would keep Nagambie in finals though, albeit it’ll still be kicked down the order to sixth.

For Tatura, the equation is simple, but the task is far more complex.

To play finals, Tatura must win, but it needs to defeat the one-loss minor premier Kyabram.

Kyabram put on a hefty total of 250 before being bowled out on day one, and it was a nervy start with the bat for the hosts at Tatura Park.

Sitting at 2-12, Tatura require 239 runs for victory with eight wickets remaining to secure its place in March.

Should Tatura pass its greatest test all season, it won’t matter if Waaia win too.

Although, if Kyabram show no mercy, a Waaia capitulation with the bat will still be a saving grace.

But that’s not the only thing at stake this weekend - a home final is up for grabs too.

Kyabram and Central Park-St Brendan’s are locked at first and second, the Bombers 10 premiership points clear while the Tigers’ ridiculous quotient of 2.243 is impossible to catch.

However, likely week one finals opponents Numurkah and Karramomus are battling it out for hosting rights.

Should Numurkah lose to Central Park-St Brendan’s and Karramomus win, the Blues will forfeit their current position, and thus their home final, to the Bloods.

However, if both teams lose, or both teams win, it’s likely Numurkah will hold its place due to a higher quotient than Karramomus.

On a side note, technically if Nagambie defeat Waaia and the Bloods lose, the Lakers could jump into fourth, but its all out total of 117 last weekend suggests its quotient won’t receive the required boost necessary to do so.

On Saturday, the Blues are defending a score of 180 against the Tigers, with Central Park on 2-18 after an early start with the willow last week.

Karramomus bowled out Katandra for 188, and jumped to 1-31 before stumps, requiring 158 runs for victory on day two.

Both games could swing either way, setting up a second subplot to the grand stand finish of the 2025-26 Haisman Shield season.