They say when it rains, it pours.
By all accounts, Tatura-Hill Top had an unfavourable draw to start the Goulburn Valley Playing Area Matheson Shield season, losing to grand finalists Shepparton Golf and Tallygaroopna in the first two rounds.
So when a bottom-half opposition came to play, the Bulldogs found their bark.
Tatura-Hill Top etched its name onto the winners’ list with an 18-82 to 0-51 thrashing of Mooroopna on Saturday, dining out in the Fruit Salad City to shoot into fifth place.
Josh Warren skipped the Bulldogs’ first rink to a thunderous result, taking Bruce Anselmi and co to the cleaners with a 29-11 triumph.
Brendon Boyd, Jarryd Tinning and Scott Adams all followed suit in their respective sets of ends, and though the margins weren’t as clear-cut as Warren’s, the visitors streaked ahead to finally get their season off and motoring.
Another side to cut their opponent to shreds was Shepparton Golf.
The Golfers were in a merciless mood back on home greens, giving division one newcomer Seymour VRI a taste of what championship sides are made of after an 18-122 to 0-46 pasting.
Brad Orr proved why he’s regarded as one of the region’s best bowlers, skipping the blue and gold to a ridiculous 42-6 victory in his opening rink.
Meanwhile, Tallygaroopna made sure to keep pace with the Golfers as it pushed aside fellow top four candidate Shepparton Park by a healthy margin.
The Redlegs handed Park its first defeat of the season, standing tall on their back paddock to score a 16-95 to 2-74 result.
Mitch Sidebottom and Guy Madigan were instrumental in Tallygaroopna’s third win on the spin, while Park’s only rink triumph came via Raymond Hill’s quartet.
Finally, Euroa’s remarkable start to the season continued against East Shepparton.
The southerners have nearly eclipsed their 2024-25 win tally, banking a 16-84 to 2-58 win over East to shoot into third on the latter.
Euroa has had a cushy run of games so far and welcomes winnable fixtures against Tatura-Hill Top and Mooroopna in rounds four and five, but its mettle will be tested later in the month when hosting Shepparton Golf.