Allan Matheson Shield has its finals set with one more twist in the tale

All of the top three sides jostling for a double chance won their fixtures as expected — headlined by Tallygaroopna (12-2) clinching first with a thumping win over wooden-spooner East Shepparton (1-13).

The 16-104 to 2-66 result appeared less foregone on paper, given East Shepparton’s drought-breaking victory the previous week to create some doubt.

In the end Tallygaroopna imposed its might on East, much like the eight straight victims before it.

The remarkable nine-game run, which included wins over both of its nearest rivals, meant no slip-ups en route to sealing a home double-chance game.

The situation was a little stickier for the next four sides down, with Kyabram and Shepparton Golf split by a solitary point in the chase for second.

In the end, the margin was the same at the conclusion of play — except favouring the Golfers, not the Bombers.

Kyabram (11-3) did just what was necessary to survive a Tatura-Hill Top (7-7) outfit playing for any chance to save its season, only barely overcoming it in a 14-89 to 4-86 struggle that had the four rinks split.

Only a barnstorming performance from Brent Reiner’s quartet had the Bombers nudge ahead, but although Tatura-Hill Top was unable to save its campaign, neither side would ultimately be thrilled with the outcome.

Shepparton Park (8-6), unaware in the moment that Kyabram would pave its path to safety, had the difficult task of trying to contain a hotly motivated Shepparton Golf (11-3), and ultimately fell short.

Not only did Golf overpower its foe to the tune of 16-104 to 2-90, but the margin was great enough to leapfrog Kyabram and nab the double-chance that, for much of the season’s second half, was in previously unimaginable peril.

Tatura-Hill Top had, as it would turn out, dragged Kyabram down with it with its stirring, though fruitless, final stand.

To Golf’s Brad Orr, though, the mission has been consistent regardless of placing.

“We were always confident we could get three rinks against Park and we were also quietly confident Tatura-Hill Top could get two rinks off Kyabram,” Orr said.

“We spoke about things yesterday and it doesn’t change the end goal whether we finished second or third.

“I said to our group that if we kept producing, we could nab top two, which we got in the end.”

Not that the club was disinterested in the results around it, though.

After the Bulldogs’ Scott Adams had publicly announced his intention to keep as informed as possible on the Park-Golf clash, Orr had eyes elsewhere as well.

It’s not terribly difficult to do, after all.

“I checked in with Tat at the break and they were down; I think everyone’s got mates around each club, so it was easy enough to sling a text at the break, and it worked out quite well for us.”

Mooroopna (3-11) was able to round its season off on a high note with a 12-105 to 6-92 win over Euroa (3-11), though Euroa comfortably maintained its sixth-placed status.

Finals will get up and running on Saturday as Tallygaroopna meets Golf in a titanic qualifying final, while Kyabram settles for a home elimination final with Shepparton Park.