Victorian men on the cusp of breaking 14 year drought
Victoria have one hand firmly on the Australian Sides Championships’ Alley Shield, provided they can keep their unblemished record intact over the next two rounds. The battle for the Alley Shield at the Australian Sides Championships continues to be a race of two, with Victoria firming as the likely champion, while NSW is reliant upon another state to seal their fate.
The men’s Alley Shield appears to be Victoria’s to lose, after the contingent produced another win in this morning’s fifth round to retain their untarnished record.
The Big V overcame the winless Northern Territory 73-41, but their first title win in 14 years is hinged upon victories in their next two rounds, where they face Western Australia and Tasmania, in order to claim the prize outright.
NSW are hot in pursuit, with their loss to Victoria yesterday their only blemish, but the defending titleholders can only chase down the Victorians if the Sandgropers or Tigers produce an upset in the penultimate and final rounds, and in the process decide the Blues future for them, provided NSW can also overcome Queensland and South Australia.
A Victorian loss would likely relegate them to runner-up, with NSW ahead of them by two rink points, however if they secure two wins, regardless of rink wins, they would sow up a historic Alley Shield victory, in a competition that has been dominated by NSW and Queensland since 2003.
South Australia, who is in third spot, still remains a mathematical possibility of leap-frogging Victoria and NSW, but would need to win both games and at least four of the six rinks on offer, while hoping that Victoria drop both matches and all rinks.
In the battle for the women’s Marj Morris Trophy, Western Australia technically holds top spot, but has yet to have their bye round, which has skewed the standings.
NSW, who has played four matches, is the only team undefeated and could climb to first spot when the Sandgropers have their bye in the last round tomorrow morning.
The Blues will face fourth placed Queensland this afternoon and fifth placed South Australia to concluded the competition, with a record-breaking fifth consecutive Marj Morris Trophy on the line.
The Sandgropers have their last round this afternoon against Victoria, who is a game behind them but equal on rink points.
Click here to view the men’s Alley Shield results.
Click here to view the women’s Marj Morris Trophy results.
