VTCA: Spotswood crashes out of top tier

SPOTSWOOD’S era at the top of the Victorian Turf Cricket Association has ended.

The Woodsmen were relegated from the senior division after a disappointing summer.

Rubbing salt into the wound, the green and golds finished the season with the wooden spoon, having taken a heavy 160-run loss to Greenvale at McLean Reserve on Saturday.

The Woodsmen went into the last day of the season optimistic about their survival chances after posting 8-264.

But their bowlers couldn’t get the job done on a batsmen’s paradise with the Vales amassing 6-424.

The Woodsmen head back to the second tier for the first time since 2005-06.

Yarraville Club’s stranglehold on the top flight is as shaky as it has been in five years.

The four-time reigning champion will have to defend its title from fourth spot, which it did in 2010-11 when it won the flag.

It lost outright to Keilor in the last round and missed out on a home final.

Meanwhile, could it be a case of out Spotswood, in Altona North?

North is ranked third in the north division finals and has its sights set on a premiership-promotion double.

The finals campaign begins with a cut-throat semi-final against Tullamarine at Tullamarine Reserve.