Sport
29 February, 2024
Highland Red and Talbot Brown in division two decider
Highland Red and Talbot Brown will meet in the division two grand final in what will be a battle of the top two teams. Much like division one, both teams have been the best performed throughout the season, and have earned their grand final spots...

Highland Red and Talbot Brown will meet in the division two grand final in what will be a battle of the top two teams.
Much like division one, both teams have been the best performed throughout the season, and have earned their grand final spots.
Highland Red have not lost a game since round three when they were defeated by Carisbrook, and after somewhat of a scratchy start to life back in division two after their relegation last year, their form has been red-hot.
That has included wins in their two meetings against Talbot Brown this season, with Highland Red taking a 50-47 win in round two.
On that occasion, Highland Red took two of the three rinks on offer, but it was a tight battle throughout.
Bert Spencer was able to give Highland Red a good start with a 19-11 win over Steven Murray, but Talbot Brown hit back on the middle rink, with Barb Crossley defeating Tilleke Wadeson 22-13. But Lance Wadeson’s 18-14 win over Ray Prentice allowed Highland Red to hold sway.
The semi-final match up between the two teams two weeks ago was resolved in a swift manner, with Highland Red dominating throughout the afternoon to comfortably win by 16 shots.
Tony Lacey took a 27-11 win over Crossley, while Lawrie Barry took a 24-19 win over Murray. Talbot Brown was able to take two points back with Darren McCleary’s 23-18 win over Spencer.
Such has been Highland Red’s dominance this season, that in their unbeaten run since round three, just two teams have got to within single figures of the minor premiers — Maryborough Golf Gold’s two-shot loss in round four, and Maldon losing by two shots in round eight.
Highland Red have boasted the best offense in the competition, scoring 807 shots during the home-and-away season, while holding the second best defense in the competition.
Their shot difference is comfortably the best in the league, making 224 more than their opposition.
Talbot Brown, for their part, are an even match for the minor premiers, however.
They have the second best offense in the competition, making 793 shots throughout the season, and looked very potent in their strong preliminary final win against Carisbrook.
Defensively, Talbot Brown have conceded 600 shots, ranked third in the competition, which means that this could be a grand final which goes right down to the wire.