Both teams finished the night with two sets apiece, but McDonalds' Jim Zwar proved the winning factor with his 8-4 scoreline in both victorious contests enough to seal the win 2-38 to 2-33.

Mike Connellan also stood up to the challenge from his powerful number one candidate Andy Tucker, who again kept GME in with a chance.

The other close clash of the night was between Carey Covers and J Ward, which also resulted in both teams winning equal sets.

Set wins were alternated in the opening four contests, before Ross McGregor and Chris Hartwich bucked the trend to put Carey Covers ahead.

Rob McKay and Andrew Marx hit back in the sixth set for J Ward, but the 5-3 score wasn't enough to peg back the margin, with Carey Covers holding on 3-37 to 3-31.

Paul Melenhorst led Ararat RSL to victory over Embroidability in another high quality showdown.

Melenhorst combined with Greg McInnes to get RSL away to a strong start with the pair putting on a display of powerful strokes.

Little separated the sides throughout the night, but consecutive victories in the fifth and sixth sets helped RSL across the line 3-37 to 2-34.

It was an intriguing battle between the 'chalk and cheese' playing styles of Ben Pietsch and Jake Nyikos in the match between Watson Auto Repairs and Fisher's IGA.

In the end it was a case of the consistent Pietsch triumphing over the hard hitting, even flamboyant Nyikos.

Phil Hartwich was also in solid form for Watson Auto, which collected the premiership points with the final score being 4-37 to 2-29.

Results

McDonalds 2-38 def Graeme McKay Earthworks 2-33

M Connellan, A Drosg drew with A Tucker, T Gubbins 6-6; P Brennan, J Zwar def J Christie, A Ives 8-4; M Connellan, P Brennan lost to A Tucker, J Christie 6-7; A Drosg, J Zwar def T Gubbins, A Ives 8-4; M Connnellan, J Zwar lost to A Tucker, A Ives 4-6; A Drosg, P Brennan drew with T Gubbins, J Christie 6-6.

Carey Covers 3-37 def J Ward 3-31

R McGregor, P Goudie lost to R Richardson, R McKay 4-7; R McGregor, B Hartwich lost to T Richardson, A Marx 6-7; P Goudie, C Hartwich def R McKay, G Chung 7-5; R McGregor, C Hartwich def R Richardson, G Chung 7-3; P Goudie, B Hartwich lost to R McKay, A Marx 3-5.

Ararat RSL 3-37 lost to Embroidability 2-34

G MciNnes, P Melenhorst def G Hurst, M Verdon 10-5; N Spinks, B McInnes lost to S Fennel, G Dowling 4-8; G McInnes, N Spinks lost to G Hurst, S Fennel 3-7; P Melenhorst, B McInnes drew with M Verdon, G Dowling 6-6; G McInnes, B McInnes def G Hurst, G Dowling 6-5; P Melenhorst, N Spinks def M Verdon, S Fennel 8-3.

Watson Auto Repairs 4-37 def Fisher's IGA 2-29

M Hope, B Pietsch def S Gason, J Nyikos 9-3; C deFegeley, P Hartwich lost to D Rowe, A Kalluri 4-10; M Hope, C deFegeley lost to S Gason, D Rowe 4-8; B Pietsch, P Hartwich def J Nyikos, A Kalluri 7-3; M Hope, P Hartwich def S Gason, A Kalluri 5-3; B Pietsch, C deFegeley def J Nyikos, D Rowe 8-2.