Allan Matheson Shield | Gallery | Reiner special has Bombers soar to top-two finish

Kyabram secured its top-two spot with a dominant road triumph over neighbouring rival Stanhope.

Making the short trip home a handsome 14-111 to 4-89 victor, the win was the Bombers’ fifth on the trot as they romp into the finals series a team brimming with confidence.

Kyabram vice-president and selector Glenn Fields said it was a professional performance from his unit which is one of nine teams the club has set to play finals across the midweek and weekend pennant competitions.

“For us it is very nice to lock in a top-two spot, which was our goal heading into the season,” Fields said.

“It was never going to be easy heading over to Stanhope and getting a win, they have been playing very well this year and in the past we have certainly had our share of tough losses on their green.

“We probably weren’t at our very best, but to come away with a relatively big win in the end, it was quite a professional display from the squad and gives us a lot of confidence moving forward.”

Despite the final result reading a 22-shot win to Kyabram, the game was much closer than the scoreboard dictated as the pair split the rinks two-apiece.

This is where the value of prized off-season recruit Brent Reiner came to the fore, as he single-handedly turned the match into a rout with a stunning 39-9 victory in rink three.

“Graeme (King) and Jacob (Cartwright) did a great job setting it up for Brent in the front end and to his credit Brent was just on fire and managed to cash in on that great work,” Fields said.

“The way that rink played was just phenomenal and really took the pressure off the rest of the team who were all in some pretty tight battles throughout the day.

“We brought in guys like Brent for matches like this and to see him in this kind of form late in the season it is a wonderful sign.”

Despite its season coming to an end in disappointing fashion, Stanhope did get some joy out of the performances of Hayden Crilly (32-21) in rink two and Jamie Stokes (24-23), who ensured the Lions added to their points tally one last time and finished sixth on the ladder.

For Kyabram, attention now turns to a cut-throat qualifying final battle against Shepparton Golf, with a trip to the grand final on the line.

“We head into the finals super confident, after playing around a bit I feel we have the mix between the rinks right and everyone is really feeding off each other,” Fields said.

“Golf is going to be a tough task, we all know that, but we are also not going to shy away from the challenge and are excited to see what this next month has in store.”

Elsewhere, Shepparton Golf wrapped up its campaign with an 18-116 to 0-66 demolition of East Shepparton.

A rout from beginning to end, coach Brett Foley was the star after his rink four squad recorded a clinical 37-16 win.

Reigning premier Tallygaroopna made a bold statement in its final home and away season clash, as it dismantled fourth-placed Shepparton Park 16-114 to 2-80.

While Tatura-Hill Top finished its season on a high as it crushed wooden spooner Mooroopna 16-106 to 2-77.