The Bulldogs clinched their sixth successive premiership and 20th flag in the past 25 years by winning three of the four rinks.

Victorious skip Ashley Bates said he couldn’t remember a tighter grand final.

“It was a crackerjack final,” Bates said.

“You don’t often have finals where they are tight from start to finish, but this one was.

“There was nothing in it.”

The scores were locked at 80-80 after 81 ends and Wodonga only broke the game open in the dying stages with six shots in the last three ends.

Paul Carey took the honours against Scott Widdison 29-21 with Bob Harbridge in good form, while John Dawson edged out Tom Webb 30-23 thanks largely to a fine display from Josh Rudd.

Bates, with David Swasbrick firing as lead, defeated Ken Widdison 26-19.

Corowa Civic was able to stay in touch through James Dunn’s strong performance against Wodonga’s Jason King.

Dunn won 32-20, but the margin was cut on the final end when King and his teammates picked up four shots.

Wodonga went into the grand final as firm favourites after scoring a runaway win earlier in the finals but Civic was bolstered by the inclusion of several key players for the grand final.

“We were expecting a tight grand final and that’s what we got,” Bates said.

“Thankfully we were able to get some breathing space in the last few ends.”