SEBASTOPOL has kept its Ballarat Geelong premier division finals hopes alive, after handing Queenscliff a 20-shot defeat at home in weekend pennant.
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In a strong response to last weekend's result against Ocean Grove, the Kookaburras claimed three rinks in the 96-76 triumph and looked like a team on a mission.
Sebastopol tournament director Rob Baker said his club had reached a make-or-break stage of the season.
"We knew if we lost that the season was gone," Baker said.
"We've had a pretty horrible run recently, so everyone is quite relieved to be back on the right side of things.
"They (Queenscliff) are a handy side, but if we couldn't beat them at home then we would have expected to not be fit for finals anyway, given their record away."
Sebastopol skippers Simon Cornock and Glen Sargent both led their rinks to 14-shot victories, which ultimately proved crucial in the win.
Andrew Myers and his side also managed to scrape home, winning 26-25.
Baker revealed that, after keeping their rinks consistent throughout the season, the Kookaburras decided to "pull names out of a hat" on selection night – a decision that paid off in dividends.
"There was massive change," Baker said.
"What it proved is that we have the players that we need; it's just a matter of getting them in the right mindset and playing with the right people."
Despite the victory, Sebastopol still faces an uphill battle if it wants to make an appearance at the business end of the season.
The Kookaburras should be too good for Webbcona on Saturday, but an away clash against Victoria the following weekend looms likely to decide the club's fate.
Baker said he would be devastated if his team missed the finals for the third season in a row.
"It would be gut-wrenching," Baker said.
"It would be a kick in the guts, to know we had the ability but just didn't bring it at the right times, and to know we were agonisingly close and didn’t make it.
"We're obviously hoping one of those other teams (in the top four) falters. We know that if we win every game from now on, then we're guaranteed to make finals.
"If we happen to drop a game, odds are we won't make it."
Ocean Grove certainly did its hopes of a finals appearance no harm, handing City Oval a whopping 103-68 defeat despite having to travel to the Hawks' home deck.
Geelong City also further heightened its chances, winning three rinks to hand Lara a 96-84 defeat. With just three rounds remaining, the result effectively ends Lara's prospects of playing finals.
In other results, Victoria looks likely to finish the season in first place, after easily accounting for Webbcona at home. The Big V won three rinks in the 107-88 success.
Meanwhile, Torquay held off a brave Avenue outfit to claim a 108-95 win.