The races for the minor premiership and finals in the Kyabram District League remain fiercely competitive after round 14.
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Lancaster kept pressure on Nagambie at the top by beating Shepparton East, while there were setbacks for Rushworth and Undera in their bid to make the top six.
Further down the ladder, Girgarre snapped its losing streak and Merrigum’s wait for a first win in 2026 continued.
RESULTS
Round 14
Shepparton East 0.4, 4.5, 6.10, 7.15 (57) lt Lancaster 8.1, 11.3, 14.8, 16.13 (109)
Girgarre 5.4, 9.4, 14.9, 16.11 (107) d Violet Town 1.4, 4.7, 6.9, 9.10 (64)
Avenel 3.4, 5.8, 8.10, 10.13 (73) d Undera 2.4, 6.6, 8.7, 9.11 (65)
Nagambie 5.5, 10.6, 13.9, 18.13 (121) d Rushworth 0.3, 2.3, 4.3, 7.3 (45)
Merrigum 1.1, 3.3, 4.3, 6.4 (40) lt Tallygaroopna 4.5, 7.6, 15.12, 21.15 (141)
Longwood 6.1, 8.3, 10.5, 15.6 (96) lt Murchison-Toolamba 4.3, 9.5, 18.8, 21.13 (139)
Stanhope bye
Shepparton East vs Lancaster
Lancaster remains within a game of Nagambie at the top of the ladder after it cruised to a 52-point win over Shepparton East at Central Park Recreation Reserve.
The Wombats flew out of the blocks with an eight-goal first quarter, Shepparton powerless to resist the onslaught as it only kicked four behinds in reply.
Leading 49-4 at quarter-time, Lancaster dropped off slightly in the second term.
The Eagles booted 4.1 to the visitors’ 3.2 for the quarter, but were still well down 4.5 (29) to 11.3 (69) at half-time.
Lancaster’s flying start ultimately proved the difference, as Shepparton went toe-to-toe with it throughout the second half.
The Wombats won the third and fourth quarters, 23-17 and 17-11, respectively, booting five majors to the Eagles’ three as scoring slowed.
The hosts could have brought themselves closer if not for some inaccurate goal-kicking, although Lancaster still posted seven more scoring shots in a dominant performance, winning 16.13 (109) to 7.15 (57).
The Wombats’ attack again fired on all cylinders, with Jamie Scapin (five goals), Luke Davies (three) and Morrie Serra (three) all multiple goal-kickers, while Scapin, Billy Mclay, Daniel Foley, Jordan O'Neill, James Lovison and Shannon Fleming were the side’s best players.
Second-placed Lancaster still has a game in hand on first-placed Nagambie, and the Wombats should be able to keep the pressure on the Lakers when they host bottom-placed Merrigum next.
Girgarre vs Violet Town
Girgarre snapped a six-game losing streak by easing past Violet Town by 43 points at Girgarre Recreation Reserve.
The Kangaroos gradually increased their margin of victory throughout the four quarters, which was built in the first with five goals to the Towners’ one.
The two sides were more evenly matched in the second, which the Roos won 24-21, setting up a 9.4 (58) to 4.7 (31) half-time lead.
Girgarre defeated Violet Town back in round two, and a dominant third quarter from the hosts ensured a double over the Towners in 2026, as Tyler McNamara’s team booted five majors to two in the term.
The visitors won the fourth quarter with 3.1 to Girgarre’s 2.2, but it was cosmetic as the Roos still prevailed comfortably, 16.11 (107) to 9.10 (64).
Billy Barnes has been a shining light in an otherwise tough year for Girgarre and he produced his second-best goal-scoring effort of the season on the day with eight majors.
Barnes was also in the Roos’ best alongside Joseph Jackson, Ben Turpin, Tom Walsh, Jorge Maxwell and Josh Hayes.
The win was only Girgarre’s third of the season and it is out of the finals picture, sitting 11th and 16 points adrift of the top six, with its next fixture a trip to Rushworth.
Avenel vs Undera
Improving Undera produced another competitive performance against a finals contender, but this time went down by eight points to Avenel.
The Lions pushed the fifth-placed Swans for four quarters at Avenel Recreation Reserve, with the hosts just pulling away in the final term, which they won 15-10.
Undera went stride for stride with Avenel in the opening three quarters, starting in the first term, where the Lions kicked 2.4 to the Swans’ 3.4.
Glenn Hart’s team then edged the second quarter 26-16 to overturn the quarter-time deficit and take a 6.6 (42) to 5.8 (38) lead into half-time.
Avenel booted three majors to two in the third quarter as the lead changed hands again entering the fourth term.
The Swans were back in front by three points before doing just enough in the final quarter to secure a 10.13 (73) to 9.11 (65) win.
Alex Hywood again stood out for the visitors with a match-best five goals, while Anthony Miller, Zach Langlands, Rueben Stranger, Alex Hywood, Matthew Perazzola and Marley Edwards all made the Lions’ best.
Despite falling short, Undera can see its performance as a positive, given it was a huge improvement on the reverse fixture back in round two that saw the Lions lose by 88 points.
But the loss didn’t do their finals hopes any favours, with Undera (4-9) now needing nothing short of a miracle to make the top six, being 12 points adrift with three matches to play.
The Lions will serve a bye first in round 15 before being back in action on August 1 against Murchison-Toolamba.
Nagambie vs Rushworth
Rushworth went down to Nagambie by 76 points at Nagambie Recreation Reserve, an effort that stacked up well considering the Lakers had previously won eight matches by triple figures this season.
The Tigers also lost by 105 points the last time the sides met in round two.
Nagambie was expected to brush aside Rushy with ease and wasted no time on the road to victory, kicking 5.5 in the first quarter while holding the Tigers to just 0.3.
Rushworth found its scoring touch in the second term with two majors but couldn’t stem the bleeding at the other end, Nagambie adding another five goals to its tally to take a 10.6 (66) to 2.3 (15) lead into half-time.
Mark Wheatley’s team lost the second half 55-30 in an improved effort, as Rushworth booted five majors across the third and fourth quarters to Nagambie’s eight.
The Tigers named Ethan Arnold, Jackson McRae, Josh Francis, Ryan Beale, Jeremy Lambden and Nico McKinley in their best in the 7.3 (45) to 18.13 (121) loss.
Consecutive defeats leaves Rushworth (4-8) in 10th on the ladder with four matches to play and effectively out of finals contention, a disappointment considering the side made a preliminary final in 2025.
The Tigers face Girgarre — the side directly below them — in their next fixture.
Merrigum vs Tallygaroopna
Merrigum fell to its eighth defeat by 100 or more points this season in its latest fixture against Tallygaroopna at Merrigum Recreation Reserve.
The Bulldogs were relatively competitive in the first half.
The visitors raced out to a healthy quarter-time lead after kicking four goals to one, but Merrigum improved in the second term, which it only lost 19-14.
The hosts still had work to do at half-time, trailing 3.3 (21) to 7.6 (48).
Tally entered the match having only won one of its previous five fixtures, offering hope that Merrigum could stay in the contest.
But that was quickly dashed in the third quarter, with the Redlegs piling on eight goals to one to boost their lead to 75 entering the fourth.
A six-goals-to-two period in favour of the away side followed in the final term, as an underwhelming second half from Merrigum led to a heavy 6.4 (40) to 21.15 (141) defeat.
Brady Wileman was a shining light for the Bulldogs, kicking three of their six majors, and he was also in the side’s best players with Ayrton Peirce, Riley Williams, Koady Murdoch, Shelby Ludlow-Lambrick and Shaun Doolan.
The challenges don’t ease up for Merrigum in round 15, as it faces premiership contender Lancaster away from home.
The weekend’s only other game saw Murchison-Toolamba defeat Longwood by 43 points at Longwood Recreation Reserve, with the Grasshoppers securing the 21.13 (139) to 15.6 (96) win off the back of an 80-45 second half.