The River Rats overmatched their opponents across the field on Saturday, recording a dominant 5-0 win.
The result pushes Echuca Moama (5-1-3) eight points clear of the Strikers with five rounds to play, likely enough to lock in a top two spot.
Mooroopna, a perfect 9-0, sits well clear, the River Rats getting another shot at the leader this Saturday at Shepparton Regional Hockey Complex.
In the men’s league, the River Rats were brought back to earth after their first win the previous week, defeated by Strikers Red.
The final score was 3-0 in a much scrappier game than the last meeting between the sides, which saw the Strikers prevail 7-3.
With a 1-3-5 record, Echuca Moama sits on six points, still an outside shot at finals if it picks up its results down the stretch.
With three matches to play, the River Rats trail fourth-ranked Strikers Blue by four points.
The locals have the bye this week, returning to action on August 8 against Goulburn Valley Grammar School.
In the juniors, the River Rats’ under-13s played out a thrilling 4-4 draw with Strikers Red, while the under-16s got past a combined Shepparton and Mooroopna outfit 2-1.
In Hockey Central Victoria, the Echuca-influenced Castlemaine side was run all over the park by a quality Sandhurst outfit.
Only William Kerr could hit the target for Castlemaine in the 15-1 defeat.
Winless Castlemaine battles Strathdale this Sunday.
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