Tallygaroopna out to certify minor premiership in Allan Matheson Shield round 12 bowls

Some may have treated it this way already, with an unbeaten Tallygaroopna continuing to keep a more than comfortable degree of breathing room.

The Redlegs have their chance to officially close the door with a fortnight to spare, though, in making a trip to play Euroa in a geographically distant clash.

A Friday 6pm roll-up was originally marked down on Bowlslink, but the game has now been brought in line with the other three fixtures and all four games will be played in their usual 1pm slot.

Tallygaroopna ultimately claimed honours on the day in round five, as it has done in an enormous 21 consecutive Matheson Shield fixtures going back to last year’s eventual premiership run, but the two sides did evenly split the rinks.

Undoubtedly the weekend’s premier clash, though, is Shepparton Golf taking on Kyabram in a battle between two sides currently occupying finals spots — to differing degrees of security.

Golf may well end up mathematically stranded in second place by the time we roll through the final round, unable to move up or down, but there are far worse ways to live.

Kyabram has delivered well beyond expectations, but came off second best in the last meeting with the Golfers out west.

With the ever-lingering threat of Tatura-Hill Top 16 points behind the Bombers, Mal Williams’ side can ill-afford a slip-up against a perennial contender.

However, Golf coach Kris Ferguson has his own goals in mind.

“We’re going into finals now, so every game is a must-win,” Ferguson said.

“Ky has a lot of quality players there, so I think it’ll be a good clash.

“You don’t underestimate anyone and anybody can beat anybody on the day, so you want to be on your game every game.

“We’ve still got one more game the permit players might play, but we’ll bring them in come finals.”

With little to worry about as far as securing a finals place goes, Golf will be out to enter knockout bowls in top form.

“Our final goal is to finish top two if we can and just assess it after that,” Ferguson said.

“We won’t look too far ahead so that we can assess things when we need to.

“There’s still a few sitting outside the top who can make it and we have to play a couple of them.”

Elsewhere on Saturday afternoon, Tatura-Hill Top will be out to capitalise on any Kyabram shortcomings and obtain a measure of revenge for itself through a vital clash with Mooroopna.

Tatura-Hill Top’s positive points difference belies its negative 4-2-5 record on the table, and virtually nothing other than a win keeps its ambitions for fourth realistic.

Finally, Shepparton Park has a chance to consolidate third — or who knows if greater things might be available, depending on the Golfers — in a local derby away at East Shepparton.