MURRAY Mallee bowlers have claimed gold in the Victoria Region Sides Championships silver tier last weekend.
The championships, held in Echuca and Moama, changed to a two-tiered system this year based on previous performances.
But Murray Mallee gained automatic promotion to the gold tier with their first attempt, remaining undefeated throughout this year’s competition.
Murray Mallee chairman of selectors Matt O’Bree said the team spoke after last year’s championship hoping to change their fortunes.
“We realised we had a lot of work to do and we decided the only way forward was for us to look into a different process,” he said.
“At the end of last year’s games, we came together and decided we needed to go younger with our selections.
“We understood we had a chance to see in a new era of Murray Mallee Bowls, and to see our experienced players gel with the younger kids we brought in was just fantastic.
“Now with the promotion and with a younger team, we feel like we are in a good position to hold this down for a few more years and hopefully have some more success.”
O’Bree said a hard-fought draw against the Wimmera region boosted the squad’s belief early.
“In the first-round matchup they had us on toast, we were 19 shots down with only a few ends to play,” he said.
“The boys dug deep to fight back for a draw. We always feel like we’re able to match up to the best sides, but to come down from that far back and get the draw, it really made our weekend.”
After a second-round victory against Ballarat Highlands, the Murray Mallee side were faced with pre-tournament favourites Geelong.
O’Bree said this game summed up how far the team had progressed.
“They’ve got a few state bowlers in their team,” he said.
“While a few guys might’ve been nervous, I think we were also quietly confident.
“That was the game that really showed how far we’d come. It was great watching Josh Thornton take on Matthew Flapper, probably two of the best players in Victoria.
“But we were impressed by our younger guys and how they stood up to the challenge.”
For O’Bree, watching the side’s final triumph against the West Coast region was one of his personal sporting highlights.
“It was a pretty special achievement to be a part of,” he said.
“I’ve been around sport for a long time and had a bit of success myself, but I don’t think I’ve ever been a part of something like this.
“We’ve copped a bit of flak in the past, it can be a bit of a difficult competition for us. We rarely get to play and train together because of the distances that people would have to travel.”
The winning side also looked the part, with O’Bree thanking major sponsor Murray Downs Golf & Country Club.
“They gave us the chance to have new uniforms and I don’t even have words to describe how thankful I am,” she said.
“We felt like we needed to be just that bit more professional, a bit more like our competition. Murray Downs was a big part of us feeling like we had brought a little more professionalism.”
