Benalla finished the regular season unbeaten, but couldn't bounce back from its qualifying final loss last weekend - ending the campaign empty-handed.

The 96-94 victory was set up for YMGCR by a 36-16 triumph for Leslie Spencer against Shawn McMahon, while Ray Irvine edged out Brian Hogg 21-18.

Benalla claimed the other two rinks with Matt Robertson a 28-19 winner against Garry Sanders and Chris Cooney getting past James Lefevre, 32-20, to see them fall agonisingly short.

Scores were level at 54-all at the tea break and the sides still couldn't be separated with one end to play on Irvine's rink and the main board reading 94-all.

YMGCR lead Claire Sanders held two shots, which was cut back to one before Ian Doust drew another inches behind the jack.

Hogg tried gallantly to take the shot back for Benalla, but was unable to change the count with Irvine not required to play his last.

"It was very tense because we had two rinks up and two down," YMGCR coach Anne Miles said.

"We just tried to keep with them until the end and that's what happened.

"Poor Ray, he was glad he didn't have to play that last bowl."

It capped off a memorable week for Miles who was part of the successful Victorian women's side that won its five-test series against South Australia, 4-1, at Moama Bowling Club.

Miles played alongside teammate Sanders and Wodonga's Kylie Whitehead and was also named player of the series.

Next weekend’s Ovens and Murray weekend pennant grand finals are as follows:

A1 - Wodonga v YMGCR; A2 - Corowa RSL v Rutherglen; A3 - Benalla v Wodonga; A4 - Corowa RSL v Benalla; B1 - Tungamah v Moyhu; B2 - Club Mulwala v Benalla; B3 - Wodonga v Rutherglen; B4 - Tawonga-Mount Beauty v Corryong 1; B5 - Club Mulwala v Corowa RSL.