Webbcona takes on Victoria in one of its biggest challenges to date | BHBR Saturday premier round nine previews

It has since raced into top four contention.

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It sits fourth entering round nine and faces a big test today in reigning premier Victoria.

A driver for Webbcona, besides the obvious want to win, is the fact that it let a potential win over top side Sebastopol slip away in round seven.

It fell by just two shots but managed to claim two rink wins for four points.

It's only rink loss was a 30-12 defeat.

BMS have steadied after an 0-2 start to the season, headlined by a 78-39 win over Linton in round seven, where it claimed a 42-5 rink win.

It takes on Learmonth today after it fell, just, to Webbcona last weekend, an outcome that does not help its win-loss column, but certainly instills some belief that it is around the mark.

BMS president Kevin McLean said improving its consistency across the board is the aim for the side.

"We've been very disappointing in that we've probably only had the one rink up each week and it can't win by enough to cover us overall," he said.

"We've all got to pick the bit up and chip in and help out, that's all there is to it."

BMS sit seventh on the ladder, 13 points behind Webbcona in fourth and with a +9 shot differential.

McLean said an extra rink win would help the team's cause.

"If we can get another rink up each week, they're going to turn from losses to wins," he said.

"It's a do-or-die game for us (today), it's just that important that we win to keep our chances alive of making the four.

"Learmonth ain't going to be any walkover, they're a very good side, even though the ladder might not indicate it, but they're only a couple of games out of the four."

Learmonth has not been too far off the mark this season, however need to get on a roll to begin its climb back up the ladder.

Buninyong is edging ever closer to the top four and face a big test this weekend in third-placed Linton.

It sits sixth on 64 points, trailing Webbcona in fourth by just one.

A win today over Linton, depending on other results, could see Buninyong leap into the top four and improve its record to 3-2.

Considering its last-place finish in the 2020-21 season, this would be a positive result heading into the Christmas break.

Linton are back in winning form after falling to BMS in round seven, able to rebound from an 11-shot rink loss to Learmonth last weekend to win overall by three shots.

Creswick and top side Sebastopol will battle in what is a vital clash for Creswick.

It sits just one-point out of the top four and after falling to Ballarat last weekend, are seeking a big scalp to get its season rolling.

It is certainly not going to be an easy win for Creswick to help it climb into the top four, however, considering its +2 shot differential, it is around the mark.

Sebastopol have taken all before it and have endured some competitive wins against strong challengers.

It has proved that a three-rink effort is needed to take it down, something Creswick needs to focus on.

Mt Xavier and Ballarat will duel, the two sides 1-3 and separated by just one point.

Considering they trail fourth-placed Webbcona by 13 and 14 points respectively, the winner would put itself in a great position to begin to rise up the ladder heading into Christmas.

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