Tongala has claimed the outright best record in the Campaspe Playing Area weekend pennant but remains in a share of the lead on competition points.
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Previously third of the three top sides, Tonny was the only of the three to win its fixture this week, helping it move into top spot.
Taking on Rochester at Tongala Bowls Club, the host was in fine form to win 14-71 to 2-36.
Bradley Tinning scored a big 30-5 victory for Tongala in his rink, while Matthew Liverton also skipped his group to success.
Tim Quinlan sneaked away with a 16-14 win for Rochester, but his side was soundly beaten.
Echuca shocked former leader Stanhope 14-66 to 2-53, giving a boost to its own finals chances.
Skip Ian Page’s 28-18 was the biggest of the tie, while Steve Cunnington also grabbed points for Echuca 20-14.
Timothy Hancock skipped his Stanhope quartet to a 21-18 win but his side’s hopes of a top-two finish were damaged by the overall result.
The third of the leading group, Moama, also failed to score winners points, but did come out on the favourable end of an overall draw, 9-54 to 7-54 against Deniliquin.
Robert Young scored a 22-11 win in his rink for Moama, while fellow skip Geoffrey Beattie also had success 20-17.
However, Deni skip Shane Laing proved the hero for his side, winning 26-12 to level the ledger on the overall tally, resulting in a share of the points.
In the final match of the round, Mathoura had a solid win over Rich River 14-69 to 2-59.
Dennis McHarry was the biggest contributor to the margin of victory, his side picking up a 26-14 victory.
Mick Humphreys also grabbed a rink win for Mathoura, while Tim Noar clawed some points back for Rich River in a 24-19 result.
Division two
In division two, Rochester was within inches of defeating Tonny, going down by a single shot, 4-58 to 12-59.
David Murray and Anton Gusak both grabbed rink wins for Rochy, but skip Jorja Ponton did just enough for Tongala to claim the remaining rink and the overall victory.
Moama proved far too capable for Deniliquin, taking the match 16-73 to 0-42.
Ben Franklin, Russell Kelly and Trevor Eastwell each picked up solid rink wins for the Steamers as they walked away with maximum points.
Stanhope got the victory over Echuca, 14-63 to 2-54.
Matthew Brighton was the lone success story for Echuca as rival skips Jennifer Crilly and Andrew Morris each scored wins to earn their side the victory.
Deni RSL came out on top against Rich River 14-64 to 2-49.
A 24-10 win to skip Tony Tonta improved RSL’s margin, while teammate Linda Harris also scored a rink win for her side.
Division three
Rochester also came close in division three, but couldn’t break through for the win against Deniliquin, downed 2-58 to 14-63.
Elmore wasn’t able to match Mathoura, strong performances from Robert Dunwoodie and David Vallance getting the win for their side 2-50 to 14-68.
Lockington was close in two of the three rinks, but a big win in the third guided Deni RSL to victory, 13-67 to 3-53.
In the Moama derby, Moama Green lost two of three rinks but narrowly snatched the win overall 12-66 to 4-64 over Moama Black.
In a similar situation, Echuca got by Rich River despite only taking one rink, 12-62 to 4-58.
Division four
In division four, a single shot was all that separated Lockington from Moama, Locky coming away with the win 12-57 to 4-56.
Echuca had a strong result against Stanhope, 14-72 to 2-54, while Ky Valley View overwhelmed Tongala 16-64 to 0-42.
Mathoura/Echuca forfeited its tie with Rich River.
Division five
Division five saw Moama defeat Lockington, 14-55 to 0-33, and Rochester downed by Deniliquin 0-20 to 14-72.
Deni RSL was too strong for Elmore 13-36 to 1-33, while Moama took both rinks against Lockington to win 14-44 to 0-33.
Cadet sports journalist