The two best teams of the season will square-off in tomorrow’s Campaspe Playing Area division one weekend pennant grand final at Mathoura.
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Minor premiers Rich River take on Tongala in what looms as a blockbuster end to a terrific season.
Rich River bowler Gary Radford said the club was looking to end a lengthy top-flight premiership drought.
“It’s been 23 years since we’ve won a division one premiership ... it’s about time,” Radford said.
“There’s two fellas in our side who played in it 23 years ago in Bruce O’Neill and Peter Nesbitt.”
Rich River had the week off going into the decider after edging out Tongala 61-54 in the second semi-final at Rochester on February 18.
But Tongala capitalised on its double chance and will also take winning momentum into the decider after a comfortable 72-44 success over Echuca last Saturday.
Tongala bowler Sam Lyon is expecting a tight, tense contest.
“We’ve played each other twice this season and won one each, so it couldn’t be any closer,” he said.
“It will come down to a few crucial ends during the game to decide the winner.
“Spectacle-wise you’d prefer a close finish, but we would rather get a good jump out and keep the lead.
“That’s what Rich River did last time, they got the jump on us.”
Radford said Rich River’s players were well-aware of what level will be required tomorrow.
“We played Moama (in the grand final) two years ago and were beaten fairly badly,” he said.
“Last year we just missed out on the grand final by one shot.
“We’re looking forward to it.”
Tongala boasts the competition’s leading skip in Bradley Tinning, who has won seven of his eight contests this season.
Rich River’s triumvirate of Stan Barker, Peter Nesbitt and Jason McCloy are ranked second, third and fourth respectively.
Much of Tongala’s hopes will rest on the shoulders of the rinks skipped by Steve Hammond and Jarryd Tinning.
Hammond’s rink has won both of its contests this finals series, including a 22-14 win over Nesbitt in the second semi-final.
Play starts from 1.30pm at the Mathoura and District Servicemen’s Bowling Club, with admission free.
The division two decider pits cross border rivals Echuca and Rich River against one another.
Echuca defeated minor premiers Moama to be the first team into the grand final.
The Steamers were then stunned by Rich River in the preliminary final, losing all three rinks as Rich River prevailed 75-41.
Rich River closed out the regular season in fourth spot, but have saved their best form for the pointy end of the campaign.
Division three pits minor premiers Moama against Lockington.
The Steamers have dropped just one match this season and that was to Lockington 71-37, at Lockington on February 4.
The most recent battle however came in the second semi-final, won by Moama 63-51.
Lockington bounced back to form by defeating Rochester in last week’s preliminary final.
Division four and five pits the two same clubs against one another in Moama and Deniliquin RSL.
CAMPASPE PLAYING AREA WEEKEND PENNANT GRAND FINALS
Saturday, March 4 at 1.30pm at Mathoura and District Servicemen’s Bowling Club.
PREDICTED TEAMS
DIVISION ONE
Rich River v Tongala.
Rich River: Graeme Moffatt, Gary Radford, Colin Hayes, Peter Nesbitt (skip); Eugene Xodo, Robert King, Keith Hewitt, Jason McCloy (skip); Ron Ritchie, Bruce O’Neale, Trevor Nagorcka, Stan Barker (skip).
Tongala: Peter Tinning, Wayne Cowley, Matthew Liverton, Stephen Hammond (skip); David Hester, John Riedell, Barry Tinning, Bradley Tinning (skip); Brad Belcher, Sam Lyon, Bill Hatzie, Jarryd Tinning (skip).
DIVISION TWO
Echuca v Rich River
Echuca: Colin Berryman, Di Payne, Lal Whyte, Michelle Cunnington (skip); Trevor McColl, Malcolm Thorn, Eddie Blampied, John Brown (skip), William Cook, Greg Clymo, Robert Taylor, Wally Fehring (skip)
Rich River: John Hart, Warwick Stiles, Hugh Davies, Barry Brown (skip); Roy Berryman, Darryl Wood, Allan Lindquist, Gerry Devlin (skip); Peter Moon, Ron Bentley, Barry Devlin, Tim Noar (skip).
DIVISION THREE
Moama v Lockington
Moama: Kevin Connolly, Peter Walton, Kelly Norris, Barry Cuttriss (skip); Phil Bell, Bernie Cruise, Allen Awty, Keryn Awty (skip); Colleen Maslen, Allan Buzza, Sue Holmes, Bryan Harper (skip).
Lockington: Ken Main, William Musgrove, Ian Johnson, Steve Pavone (skip); Ray Hanson, John Van Den Bosch, James Harris, Graham Turner (skip); Brian Kinane, Phillip Cunnington, Russell Shawcross, Leanne McInnes (skip).
DIVIDSION FOUR
Moama v Deniliquin RSL
Moama: Yvonne Hinsley, Laurie Quinton, Tony Hawley, Darren Yates (skip); Cheryl Doherty, Michael Bakof, Judy Eastwell, Terry Thomson (skip).
Deniliquin RSL: Peter Thommers, Sandra Hill, Peter Liefting, Bruce Clancy (skip); Ronald Hulme, Brian Clancy, Graham Gordon, Jim Jennings (skip).
DIVISION FIVE
Deniliquin RSL v Moama
Deniliquin RSL: Peter Todd, Jim Rhook, Robin Ferry, Bruce Ferry (skip); Callan Glenn, Neville Austin, Ron Marchetti, John Wilson (skip).
Moama: Benjamin Cottier, Wayne Whitney, Walter Wadge, Peggy Bell (skip); Colin Struthers, Brian Hester, Barry Barbary, Stuart Sutton (skip).