Kyabram's Robert George couldn’t have skipped a better run for his side as the Bombers made a winning start.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
It’s still an express service on the Tally train.
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The Goulburn Valley Playing Area Allan Matheson Shield’s reigning premiers were given the ultimate assignment in round one at the weekend: prove their mettle once more in the face of hungry runner-up and perennial contender Shepparton Golf.
In last week’s News Matheson Shield preview, Tallygaroopna and Golf were strongly tipped to form a concrete duopoly over the competition after third-placed Kyabram lost several key talents in the off-season.
If Saturday’s round one contest was a sign of the tussle to come between these two heavyweights, though, it’s going to be one hell of a ride.
A powerful Tallygaroopna force in David Daws wasn’t on Saturday morning’s team sheet, but his charges nonetheless faced off in a gritty affair with a Golf outfit which featured a couple of prominent new faces.
Former Kyabram boss Brent Reiner nominated Golf as his home club under new eligibility rules and immediately slotted in as a high-powered skip for the blue and gold, taking his rink handily over Mitch Sidebottom’s four.
New Golf boss Kris Ferguson, taking over from the decorated Brad Orr, made the ideal start to his time at the helm in holding off Liam Crapper’s rink by the slimmest of margins.
It was up to the rinks commandeered by Mark Ryan and Matt Robertson to steer things back towards the red and green outfit and what we got was a grandstand finish worthy of these two contending clubs.
In the end, Tallygaroopna’s winning streak from last season moved to 12 after scraping through to take the points on home greens, 14-79 to 4-78.
Around the grounds, six other sides looked to start their attempted challenges of the two top teams on the right foot, with a couple of eye-grabbing results to be found.
Mooroopna's Scott Donaldson wanted to make sure everything was in order.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Kyabram's Kenneth Risstrom sends one down the line.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Mooroopna's Bree Warren made a start for her new side after crossing from Shepparton Park.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Kyabram's Robert Anset weighs it up before rolling.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Mooroopna's Martin Fong arrived into the competition highly touted.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Mooroopna's Scott Donaldson is working it out at ground level.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Mooroopna's Olivia Andrews gets into position.
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Rechelle Zammit
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Kyabram's Noel Reddrop watches his effort go.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Mooroopna's Robert Ponton took on skip duties in the season opener.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Kyabram and Mooroopna had a barometer battle, each projected to move in opposite directions and set for stern tests to kick off their respective campaigns.
What they got was nothing short of just that, with the Bombers riding a huge rink win from Robert George to hold off the upstart Cats 16-74 to 2-70.
The other two results were perhaps less nail-biting, with fellow finals aspirants Shepparton Park comfortably accounting for Euroa 16-103 to 2-70 — with Paul Nichols skipping an incredible 43-9 triumph along the way.
Finally, Tatura-Hill Top produced a thumping display to dismantle East Shepparton 18-116 to 0-36, with only one East rink reaching double figures in a thorough statement result for the western outfit.
