Fight for final four heats up

THE penultimate round of Saturday Pennant Division 1 tomorrow has all the makings of a bestseller with third and fourth places on the ladder up for grabs.

Fifth-placed Merbein tackles sixth-placed Red Cliffs at Kenny Park.

In recent weeks the Tigers have been hunting in packs, taking down Irymple and Workers in close encounters, and a win could catapult them into the four.

Merbein has dropped its last two games to Workers and Ouyen, and will need to lift if they are to have finals aspirations.

Whether a spot in the top four opens up will depend on the outcome of the Mildura-Workers match.

The Magic will be smarting after their drubbing at the hands of Irymple last week.

Selectors have responded by making some big changes, with Butch Pollock being recommissioned to play third to Mark Eckel, and Ron O’Neil taking charge of the Pollock rink with Chris Mitchell to play third. Isaiah Bettess retains his skips role.

Workers, in fourth place, were stiff losing to Red Cliffs by a single digit last week and will be looking for Roger Bray and Ken Job’s rinks to lift.

Top side Mildura won the first two encounters between these sides narrowly and will need to bring their A-game.

Irymple hosts Ouyen at the Cauldron. Given the Suns’ resurgence last week against the Magic, it would be hard to go past them.

The Two Blues have the capacity to take the match up to the Suns and, if they can stay with the home side running into the final stanza, could claim the points.

The Suns are hunting for top spot and a home semi-final, so will have the radar tuned in. At home the Suns should shine.

In Division 2, Ouyen host Nangiloc and after two narrow losses the Two Blues will be eager to get a win to finish off the season on a positive note.

Nangiloc has locked its place in the four and is guaranteed finals action. This will be a tough encounter. The Two Blues might just cause an upset.

Mildura hosts Workers and will be looking to collect the points as they have the opportunity to claim top spot on the ladder and host a semi-final. That will depend on winning tomorrow and upsetting top side Coomealla next week.

Coomealla hosts Irymple at the Thunderdome. The Suns have an opportunity to jump up to second spot with a solid win. All in all, this week’s round of matches provide some exciting opportunities.

Division 3 plays its last round of home-and-away games tomorrow.

Top side Wentworth travels upstream to Merbein. With the boilers fully primed, the Steamers should have a little too much in the tank and should collect the points.

Irymple hosts the Workers. The Suns sit outside the four and a win is a must if they are to have finals aspirations.

Euston hosts the Magic at the Hideout. The Bandits sit fourth and a win in the last round is essential to guarantee finals. Mildura will be hunting for a win to shore up second spot and the double chance come finals.

Red Cliffs hosts a fast-finishing Underbool unit which sits in third spot and needs a win to challenge for second spot. The ’Bool to win.

In Division 4, Coomealla are firmly entrenched as top side and will host the second semi-final, but their opponent will not be determined until tomorrow.

Irymple hosts Mildura 5 and will need to collect all eight points to have the chance to claim second spot, if Euston 2 can take out Mildura 4.

The Suns have a score differential lead over Mildura 4 of 51, but need to make up a gap of four points.

Coomealla hosts Underbool. The ’Bool needs a win to guarantee a finals appearance. The Cannons have dropped only one game for the season and, at home, they will start favourites.

Meanwhile, if Euston 2 upsets Mildura 4 and claims six points they could claim fourth spot.