Kyabram wins 62 games in a row, while eight new premiers are crowned

THERE seems to be no stopping Kyabram.

THERE seems to be no stopping Kyabram.

The powerhouse advanced to the Goulburn Valley League grand final with a 34-point win over Echuca yesterday.

The victory was the Bombers’ 62nd in a row, overtaking what is believed to be the Victorian record set by Vermont — a 61-match winning streak stretching from 1988-91.

Kyabram won 15.7 (97) to 10.3 (63), meaning coach Paul Newman heads into his third grand final at the helm yet to lose a match (the Bombers’ last loss was the 2015 grand final).

But it was the prospect of going straight into the decider in two weeks, not the record, that drove the side yesterday, according to Kyabram president Mark Schumann.

“We only snuck over the line last week against Shepparton,” he said.

“The difference was 14 points, but they hit the front a few times in the last quarter so it was a really close game.

“Then we came up against Echuca and they took it up to us as well. It was only a goal or so the difference at three-quarter time. We kicked away a bit in the last quarter.”

Meanwhile, there were seven senior grand finals played in Victorian country football yesterday.

Another thrilling chapter was written in the rivalry between Leitchville-Gunbower and North Bendigo, the former claiming back-to-back Heath­cote District League flags.

The two clubs have now faced off in the past four grand finals and won two apiece.

Scores were level at the first break before Leitchville-Gunbower kicked seven unanswered goals.

North Bendigo fought back before eventually succumbing 14.10 (94) to 12.13 (85).

There was a fairytale ending to the Bellarine League season, with Modewarre defeating Barwon Heads to claim its first premiership since 1994.

And Beaufort has won its first premiership since 1996, beating Buninyong in the Central Highlands League grand final, 15.9 (99) to 9.7 (61).

In the Warrnambool & District League, Old Collegians suffered a third grand final loss in a row. Nirranda claimed its second flag in three years, 10.11 (71) to 5.10 (40).

Red Hill was unable to break a 28-year drought, losing the Mornington Peninsula Nepean League Division 2 finale to Dromana, 10.7 (67) to 9.5 (59).

Bullioh won the Upper Murray premiership against Federal, while Trafalgar won the Mid Gippsland Football League grand final against Yinnar.

Meanwhile the Western Border league season also concluded yesterday, with Millicent winning its first premiership since 1984.

It beat East Gambier 11.10 (76) to 11.6 (72).