Merrigum will face Tallygaroopna in an elimination final.
There was only one clash between finals sides in the last round of Kyabram District League netball, with the top six otherwise recording routine victories as they prepare for the postseason.
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The round
Undera 15 lt Lancaster 70
Merrigum 55 d Stanhope 26
Longwood 19 lt Rushworth 61
Shepparton East 61 d Nagambie 38
Murchison-Toolamba 26 lt Tallygaroopna 63
Avenel 50 d Violet Town 45
Girgarre bye
Lancaster vs Undera
Mathematically the Wombats’ top-two status was still in question heading into the round, but an away match-up with bottom-of-the-table Undera indicated Lancaster would be locking in the week off.
That’s exactly how things played out, as the Wombats comfortably prevailed, 70-15, dooming the Lions to a winless campaign, while improving their own standing to 14-2.
Nagambie’s defeat elsewhere saw Lancaster finish with a two-game break in second, and the Wombats now get a week off to prepare for the might of undefeated reigning premier Shepparton East.
The winner will go straight to the grand final, while the loser will get a second chance in the preliminary final.
Merrigum vs Stanhope
Merrigum was the only finals side with a realistic hope of improving its table position in the final week, although moving from fifth to fourth would have been a superficial move with no effect on its finals road.
As it was, Tallygaroopna’s win was significant enough to render the Bulldogs’ result meaningless in terms of league position, but the home side ensured it entered the finals with momentum, recording a 55-26 win over Stanhope.
Merrigum will take on Tallygaroopna in Girgarre on Sunday in the fourth vs fifth elimination final after both clubs finished the season 11-1-4.
Longwood vs Rushworth
Rushworth will be the underdog in its final, up against third-ranked Nagambie.
With sixth spot locked in, Rushworth had only momentum to play for as it travelled to struggler Longwood in the last round.
The tune-up game for the finals saw the Tigers with all the running, rolling to a clinical 61-19 win.
Rushworth (10-6) now prepares for an elimination semi-final with Nagambie on Saturday in Violet Town.
The Tigers emerged from the bottom-four bracket in the finals last season to reach the preliminary final, and will need to do so again this year to match or improve on that campaign.
In other results, Shepparton East confirmed an unbeaten regular season, defeating Nagambie 61-38.
The Eagles look to be a class above the rest, and will be tough to stop in the finals, now just two wins away from another flag.
Tallygaroopna defeated Murchison-Toolamba 63-26, while Avenel bested Violet Town 50-45.
