Echuca, Kyabram and Moama are confirmed participants, while Deniliquin remains a faint hope to overthrow Stanhope and claim the fourth spot.
Echuca kept its top spot intact at the weekend with a 14-69 to 2-44 victory over Mathoura.
Ian Page’s rink was the standout performer for Echuca, rollicking to the win 28-8.
Steve Cunnington also got points on the board, defeating a David Hicks-led squad 24-14.
Mick Humphreys mustered some joy for the Timbercutters, downing Philip Thorn’s quartet 22-17, but it was far from enough to grab overall points.
Kyabram kept on the leader’s heels and dealt a near death blow to Deniliquin’s season in a 14-63 to 2-55 win.
All three rinks were reasonably tight, Ky’s best margin Robert George’s 21-13 victory over Shane Laing.
Paul McInnes put two more points up for the Bombers in a 26-21 result, while Simon Chisholm pulled one back for Deni 21-16.
Deniliquin needs to win all three rinks against Mathoura this weekend and for Rich River to take all three over Stanhope to make finals.
Moama kept its chances of improving on third alive as it won 14-76 to 2-53 over Rich River.
Robert Young’s rink ran up a big score for the Steamers, prevailing 33-17, while Moama’s other win came courtesy of Geoffrey Beattie, who was successful 25-13.
Tim Noar downed Rodney Werner 23-18 in Rich River’s lone bright spot on the scorecard.
Rochester shot off the bottom of the ladder, one decisive rink proving the difference in a 12-68 to 4-52 win.
Rochy owes the result to the Tim Quinlan-led side, which ran up a 31-12 scoreline to claim the points.
Although Tonny won the other two rinks, neither Bradley Tinning (22-20 over Richard Feuk) or Matthew Liverton (18-17 over Ian Berry) could do enough to claw back the result.
Stanhope surged with the bye, now one game away from securing a finals berth.
Aside from the duel for fourth, Kyabram and Moama will play this weekend, with a vital place in the top two and the finals double chance the reward for the victor.
Rochester will look to finish the year with momentum as it hosts leader Echuca.
Lower Divisions
In division two, Echuca bested Stanhope 14-65 to 2-48, while Deniliquin got by Moama 14-57 to 2-55.
Rich River won all three rinks over Kyabram 16-68 to 0-37 and Tongala had the bye.
In division three, Deniliquin and Kyabram couldn’t be separated, Deni taking the split 9-59 to 7-59.
Moama cruised by Rich River 16-64 to 0-48, while Lockington crushed Stanhope 16-84 to 0-31.
Echuca had a big win over 16-76 to 0-39 and Rochester scored victory over Tongala, 14-67 to 2-59.
In division four, Kyabram ran up a big score over Ky Valley View 16-86 to 0-48, while Moama was also dominant over Rich River 16-71 to 0-37.
Deniliquin RSL defeated Lockington 15-65 to 1-60, Echuca beat Mathoura 14-76 to 2-51 and Rochester won over Tongala 15-68 to 1-44.
In division five, Deniliquin White got the result over Kyabram 14-51 to 0-33, Moama defeated Rich River 14-67 to 0-32 and Echuca Blue prevailed over Stanhope 14-41 to 0-30.
Deniliquin Blue edged out Echuca 12-45 to 2-42 and Lockington scored both rinks over Rochester 14-42 to 0-20.
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