After qualifying for last year’s grand final, the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent cancellations blocked any chance of Echuca vying for the crown.
But after making it through to the final match of the season once again, Echuca can finish what it started when it faces Mathoura Red today.
It will be more than a handy fight too, with Mathoura coming in off the back of an electrifying preliminary final win against Moama last week.
Finishing as a draw before heading into extra ends, a cold-blooded Mathoura ran out the better of the two teams, ultimately a four-shot winner.
Mathoura's recent form won’t scare Echuca though, with club president and player Pat Schram confident her team has what it takes to come out on top.
“Mathoura is coming in off the back of a tight win and will be pretty pumped. But we’re pretty comfortable with how we play,” Schram said.
“On the day, we’ll have to put our best foot forward and combine well as a team, then we’re in with a show.
“We need to start well and maintain our intensity for the whole match.”
An unofficial home-ground advantage to Mathoura won’t faze Echuca in the slightest, with Schram satisfied her team can match it in any environment.
“That is no drama. It was allocated before the semi-finals,” she said.
“It’s just like football with the MCG, you’ve just got to get the job done; it doesn’t matter where you play.”
Beefing up the hype of the occasion, Schram said she was expecting a lively crowd on the day.
“There is sure to be a lot of healthy interest on the day; finals are always the loudest matches all year,” she said.
“From spectators to players as well, they get a bit louder too and give off a bit of cheek,” she said with a laugh.
“We’re really lucky here, it’s really competitive on the greens, but off it we’re all mates.”
Meanwhile, the division two grand final will also be contested on the day, with Rich River to go head-to-head with Mathoura Blue after the latter beat Tongala in the preliminary finals.
● The grand final will start at Mathoura Bowling Club today (Friday, March 12) with the national anthem beginning at 9 am before play begins at 9.30 am.
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