Edna Harling Shield | East Shepparton stuns Kyabram in preliminary final thriller

By Zac Standish

Mar 7, 2023

Legendary: Goulburn Valley Playing Area hall of famer Stacey Collier showed her class in East Shepparton’s upset Edna Harling Shield preliminary final win. Photo by Megan Fisher

East Shepparton is grand final-bound in the Goulburn Valley Playing Area Edna Harling Shield after it toppled minor premier Kyabram in a preliminary final boil-over at Stanhope Bowls Club.

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A nail-biting clash from start-to-end, the Eagles ended up prevailing 14-74 to 2-70, with the class of GVPA hall of famer Stacey Collier ultimately proving the difference between the two sides.

Skip of East’s rink three squad, Collier was on song from the get-go as she made the most of her teammates’ good work at the front end to come away an eventual 30-19 victory.

This result coupled with a strong 29-18 win by Graeme Barber in rink two was enough for the Eagles to prevail, especially after Mary Greco kept the Bombers in the contest with a clinical 33-15 triumph in rink one.

But in the end it was the class and experience of East that won out, with the likes of Collier and Barber standing up in crunch time to secure the four-shot win.

This result sets up a tantalising grand final battle between cross-town rivals East Shepparton and Shepparton Golf, with the latter also defeating the reigning premier Bombers in a thrilling semi-final last week.

Elsewhere, Shepparton Golf advanced to the division two midweek pennant grand final with a 14-72 to 2-56 win over Kyabram.

This sets up an intriguing decider against Shepparton Park next week.

Seymour VRI continued the preliminary final day pain for Kyabram, as it bested the Bombers 14-64 to 2-56 to advance to the division three grand final against Shepparton Park.

In division four Eildon won its way into the decider with a thrilling 14-68 to 4-64 win over Dookie, setting up a clash with Alexandra for the title.

While Euroa rounded out the preliminary final winners with a 14-53 to 0-22 win over Avenel, which means it will face Shepparton Park in the division five grand final.