Lavington coach Daryl Tuffey says paceman Ryan Brown has returned a different player after the Australian Country Championships.

The 27-year-old paceman sat 32^nd on the wicket-takers' list with only nine at Christmas. He's taken 15 at 11 apiece since.

"Going away it's done him wonders, he's come back and is really hitting his straps at the right time," Tuffey said.

"This is the time you want guys firing on all cylinders and a lot of guys are."

CULCAIRN KID

While Brown is deservedly regarded as one of the association's best quicks, medium-pacer Rory Jenkins has been a quiet achiever after spending his debut year from Culcairn in second grade.

"He's just flourishing game by game, he's done a great job for us," Tuffey said.

"He flies under the radar a little bit like (spinner) Mick Galvin, those guys have been an integral part of our bowling unit."

Jenkins took 4-31 against the Bulldogs.

"He uses changes of pace and had a big job against Jack Craig and Robbie Jackson."

WODONGA WOBBLES?

Lavington's 139-run belting of minor premiers Wodonga was the story of the penultimate round, but the ladder leaders shouldn't be worried.

Given how many games are played now, it's almost impossible to stay 'up'.

In the past two years, CAW provincial has moved to 50-over and T20 games.

As it stands, Wodonga has played 23 matches, with at least three more, possibly four, left.

In 2017-18, the most you could play was 19.

It's a marathon and it's all about timing.

HOLD YOUR NERVE

Just like Wodonga, another of the top three teams in East Albury had a day to forget against North Albury.

The Crows were dismissed for 99 with the home team cruising to a six-wicket win.

East has had a blinding season, but is now just a win clear in third from Albury and Tallangatta.

That pair meets in Saturday's final round, with East (1.213) ahead of Tallangatta (1.113), but trailing Albury (1.296) on percentage.

The Crows can take any fear of falling out of the equation by toppling Lavington on Saturday.

DOUBLE UP

St Patrick's racked up its second successive win for just the second time this season.

The Patties crushed bottom New City with Mitch O'Brien (65) posting his first half-century of the season.

The visitors were helped when Phoenix's best player Sam Grant was unable to bowl.

St Pat's win followed the 63-run victory over Wodonga Raiders.

The Patties defeated Belvoir and Tallangatta in early November.

St Pat's is now home to finals-bound North Albury.

IN OTHER NEWS:

CAPTAIN ZAC

It's been a brutal season for New City, but the club might have unearthed another bowler.

Captain Zac Barrenechea had just his second spell for the season and snared 3-41 against the Patties.

Prior to that, he had only two overs (0-12) against Tallangatta last month.

Some captains have refused to bowl themselves over the years, for fear of being seen to do too much.

Meanwhile, another unheralded bowler in Albury's Joel Montgomery claimed his best provincial figures with 4-34 against Belvoir.