With all three sports now in their final month of regular season action, it is worth taking a look at what a ‘no result’ might mean for the finals picture in all three leagues
This weekend was set to provide some clarity around the fourth-place finisher in the McMahon Shield, with Kyabram Fire Brigade and Rochester, the two sides locked together in that place, set to do battle at Northern Oval.
With the game called off, the two sides will remain together on 90 competition points, Rochester holding the tie-breaking quotient edge 1.244 to 1.172.
It sets up a shootout over the final three rounds, but Rochester will be concerned that a bye in the final round gives it only two opportunities to earn further points, while the Flames still have three.
Fire Brigade have two of the top three (Echuca South and BLU) still to battle, while Rochester has a matchup with unbeaten Moama coming up.
The bye also proved incredibly damaging to Echuca’s faint hopes of returning to the finals picture and defending its four straight premiership crowns.
The side would have hoped to gain ground on either Rochester or Fire Brigade with a win over Tongala, but remains two games behind both, requiring a miracle to make up the deficit over the final three weeks.
Tennis
The top-table showdown between the two Echuca sides was a big casualty of the heat, with the two teams remaining in a share of the lead for another week.
Both sides have a single win over the other so far in the season, and are undefeated otherwise, but the chance to find out who may be favourite come finals time went begging.
The pair are scheduled for one more encounter this season, on February 21.
At the other end of the ladder, Rochester and LBU were set to battle, LBU continuing to search for a maiden win, while Rochester would have been hoping to add to its game before attempting a giant-slaying effort in the post-season.
Bowls
Moama was the big beneficiary of the heat rule, making ground on everyone after earning maximum points with the bye.
Everyone else had to settle for an 8-8 split, putting the Steamers back within a game of top spot.
The much-anticipated battle between the top two, Echuca and Kyabram, was the major casualty, Echuca staying in the lead with 152 competition points, while Kyabram lurks close behind on 147 (Moama is on 142).
The Bombers will now have to hope Echuca slips up in the remaining two rounds if they hope to grab the minor premiership.
Deniliquin will also be ruing its misfortune after missing the chance to improve its position.
Currently out of the top four by a single point, Deni would have been bullish about its chances of taking down lower-placed Rich River and surging above Stanhope.
The missed week also puts a huge dent in Tongala’s hopes for a late run at the finals, the side now needing results to perfectly fall in its favour to have any hope of making the top four.
