Travelling to Stanhope Recreation Reserve to take on the Lions and desperate to stop a run of three straight losses, the Towners were spirited, but ultimately came up short, falling 26-41 to extend the winless run which now dates back to round seven.
It continues what has been a stark turnaround after such a strong start to the season for the Towners, who sat fifth following that win over Murchison-Toolamba in round seven with a 4-2 record to that point.
Instead, Violet Town now possesses a 4-6 record to sit down in ninth, two and a half games off the finals pace, and will face a tough Nagambie outfit this weekend that will be out to stop a losing streak of its own, having gone down again at the weekend.
In the biggest game of the round, the second-placed Lakers hosted third-placed Lancaster at Nagambie Recreation Reserve, and with second spot and the mantle of number one challenger to Shepparton East on the line, the contest certainly delivered.
Entering the clash off the back of their first loss since round two, the Lakers were looking to bounce back in fashion and reassert themselves over the resurgent Wombats, but Lancaster – having won seven games on the trot prior to the weekend – had other ideas.
In a brilliant battle that wouldn’t look out of place deep into finals, it was the Wombats that prevailed, emerging ahead 42-39 to claim a massive win on the road and seal an eighth straight victory.
It’s a result that shakes up the top four yet again, as the Wombats climb into second with a 9-1 record, demoting the Lakers to third following a second consecutive loss, having gone down to Tallygaroopna last weekend also.
The Redlegs pose a threat to Nagambie’s third spot on the ladder, too, having moved up to fourth at the expense of Rushworth at the weekend, with the Tigers having the bye.
Tallygaroopna has enjoyed a strong run of form over the past month to leap into the challenger conversation, too, and claimed a fifth-straight victory with a 50-37 victory over Girgarre on the road on Saturday to occupy fourth, one game behind the Lakers but with a game in hand, ahead of a clash against Shepparton East this weekend.
But the entire rest of the top four still has some way to go before they can mount a proper challenge to the Eagles, who continued on their merry way on Saturday, too, notching a mammoth 75-16 victory over Murchison-Toolamba at Central Park Recreation Reserve to remain a game and nearly 100 per cent clear of second-placed Lancaster.
Elsewhere, Merrigum notched the biggest win of the round with an 80-16 demolition of Undera to shore up sixth spot, while in the sole contest on Sunday, Avenel ensured it remains a chance of sneaking into finals, cementing seventh spot and closing to within a game-and-a-half of sixth following a 50 to 35 win over Longwood.
