With play resuming for the weekend pennant this Saturday, January 17 and the midweek pennant returning a few days later on Tuesday, January 20 there is plenty to play for as the regular season’s end draws near.
In the division one of the weekend pennant, Kyabram (6-3) and Stanhope (5-4) appear to be among the chief challengers to ladder leader Moama’s crown, sitting in third and fourth, respectively.
With only four rounds to go, Kyabram has a mixed bag of opponents left, with battles against Echuca in round 13 and Moama in round 15 ones to watch ahead of the finals.
However, the red and black will have a good chance to get on the front foot with a win in the upcoming round 11, hosting eighth place Rochester at Kyabram Bowls Club.
Stanhope is in a different situation, coming up against Moama on Saturday before playing Rochester, Tongala, having a bye and finishing against Rich River.
Meanwhile, Tongala is on the outside looking in on the finals, sitting in seventh and would need to outdo Rich River and Deniliquin to have a chance at making the top four, with Stanhope having to make room which seems unlikely.
Nevertheless, Tonny could still make a good account of itself but will face some stiff competition, playing Deniliquin, Moama, Stanhope before finishing its season against Rochester as it has a bye in round 15.
The standings tell a similar story in the midweek pennant, albeit without the presence of Tongala, who isn’t involved in the division one competition.
The top four of the midweek pennant is the same as the weekend pennant with different records, Kyabram (7-3) sit in third and Stanhope (5-5) in fourth behind Moama (9-1) and Echuca (8-2).
With the rest of the competition having a record of under .500, the top four is essentially set outside a miracle.
Although, the order of that top four is yet to be set in stone.
Kyabram is only a game back from Echuca and two back from Moama with the potential order of those three still up in the air.
With four rounds remaining before finals, Kyabram will play all the other top four teams with Rich River thrown in as well, with those games deciding who sits where come finals.
Meanwhile, Stanhope will have a slightly easier schedule the rest of the way, avoiding Moama entirely and playing Mathoura and Rich River alongside Echuca and Kyabram in the final round.
Looking at the immediate future, Kyabram will be the underdogs against Echuca in round 11 at Kyabram Bowls Club while Stanhope should bank a win, hosting Mathoura at Stanhope Bowls Club on Tuesday.
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