Corowa appears set to qualify for finals in its first year in the association.
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Rain had a major impact on the final round, but Corowa was able to avoid the bulk of it, declaring on 8-278 away to Howlong.
The home team is 2-24.
Number four batsman Nathan Rhodes became the club’s first player to hit a century in first grade after switching from Wangaratta and District.
Rhodes posted 113, his highest score at A grade level, and his fourth overall, including a classy 122 at under 15 level.
“Yeah, it definitely would be (the best I’ve hit them this year),” he said.
Rhodes now has 284 runs at 40.6.
“He’s a pretty classy looking batsman when he gets going, he doesn’t try to over-hit the ball, he’s a pretty sweet timer I guess,” Corowa captain Jarred Lane said.
“He played really well, he plays proper cricket shots I guess.
“He’s not a brute by any stretch, but he still finds the rope pretty comfortably.”
The 25-year old came to the crease at 2-28, and departed at 7-222 in a superb display.
He shared a crucial 95-run stand for the fifth wicket with Matt Wilson.
Corowa still had 11 overs to face, but elected to send Howlong in for the last 30 minutes.
“We thought there were a few storms around and we thought we’d have a little bowl and see if we can get a couple of wickets, which we did,” Lane said.
Corowa went into the final round with a 1.21-point lead over seventh-placed Mount Beauty, but Lane says the club wasn’t thinking outright.
“Probably not, we just saw we had an opportunity there, if you can get a couple down overnight it can make a difference,” he said.
The other matches were shortened by the rain.
Mt Beauty, which is desperately trying to retain its crown, had Baranduda 8-118 from 47.5 overs.
Luke Bartley scored 57, with 10 boundaries, while Ashan Ranaweera and Daniel Saville snared three wickets apiece.
Dederang’s Luke Deans hit an unbeaten half-century against Bethanga.
The visitors finished with 5-148 from 48.3.
And Lavington made 4-100 against Yackandandah.
Steve Wright top-scored with 36.
And rain had a major impact on Eskdale’s home game against Kiewa.
It sets up an interesting final day with Mt Beauty striving to overtake the three teams most vulnerable in the top six.
The ladder, heading into the final round, was: Wodonga 78.03, Dederang 77.45, Yackandandah 75.38, Baranduda 67.08, Lavington 65.08, Corowa 63.01, Mt Beauty 61.80, Eskdale 55.93. Howlong 52.92, Kiewa 51.57, Bethanga 44.17.
