MURRAY Downs skipper Josh Thornton is elated that the hoodoo is over, after Murray Downs claimed the Weekend Pennant Division 1 bowls grand final on Saturday.
Thornton arrived at Murray Downs three years ago and has suffered two heartbreaking defeats to Swan Hill during that time, with both matches requiring extra ends to split the two sides.
But that wasn’t necessary on Saturday as Murray Downs topped off a perfect year to record a comfortable 98-64 shot win over their rivals.
“The hoodoo is gone,” he said.
“The boys played exceptionally well.”
Murray Downs skippers Buck Lehmann, John Caldwell and Thornton led the way for Murray Downs.
The team went into the match quietly confident after another dominant season where they hadn’t lost a game, however that had also been the case in the previous two years.
“Its a relief to get the first, the boys deserve it,” Thornton said.
“I love playing bowls here, Swan Hill does a good job preparing a Grand Final facility.”
“Hopefully it is the first of many more.”
Murray Downs president Garry McCaig was feeling relief after the match.
“We weren’t far away the past two years,” he said.
“We knew if we put it all together we could do it.
“Our consistency and the three skippers played a big part in taking the win.”
Swan Hill Bowls president Brian Richardson said Murray Downs deserved the win.
“Congratulations to Murray Downs they bowled very well,” he said.
“They played the conditions very well.”
Despite going down in the final game of the year, Richardson was still pleased the season the club put together, as their Division 1 Midweek team is set to take part in the Grand Final today.
“We have still had a very successful year,” Richardson said.
“We are very happy to participate in the last game of the year, even if it didn’t go our way.”
