MURRAY Downs booked their spot in the 2022-23 Murray Valley Bowls Division Grand Final, beating Racecourse in a tight qualifying final.
With home advantage, Murray Downs were challenged all the way by their rivals but eventually prevailed 69 shots to 60.
Heading into the game, Racecourse had won the previous two encounters between the sides and at the tea interval it appeared that form would continue with the green and white up by four shots.
Josh Thornton and his team of Matt O’Bree, Michael Hollingworth and Mick Tempini turned the momentum around after tea, playing some brilliant bowls to win their rink 30-15.
Thornton told The Guardian he was pleased to record a big win on his rink in such a close game.
“There was never a large margin at any stage of the day, but thankfully our rink picked up the ascendency after the break, which set the team up nicely,” he said.
The big win was critical, with the remaining two rinks going to Racecourse.
Mark Snel defeated John Caldwell’s team 21-19, but a massive comeback from the Murray Downs side proved vital in the context of the contest as a whole.
“John Caldwell has had the best rink all year, and they had a rare poor day on Saturday, but their fightback late was significant in getting the job done,” Thornton said.
“I think they were 13-1 down at one stage and only lost by two, so bridging that gap was massive.”
On the remaining rink, Racecourse’s star bowler Norm Smith and his crew won 24-20 against Brian Lehmann.
“Buck (Lehmann) played the form player of the competition this season in Norm Smith and got off to a flyer but, as Norm does, he fought back and got in front.
“The guys minimised the damage, however, allowing us to do what our rink wanted to do.”
Even for the seasoned campaigners at Murray Downs, Thornton said it was a relief to book a grand final place and not have to run the gauntlet of a knockout match.
“I know they beat us the last two games, but we were always confident we could win – that doesn’t change the fact that we are relieved to make the final, and now it’s up to them or Swan Hill to come and join us.
Murray Downs will hold a practice match on Saturday morning before heading to support their four other club sides in their preliminary final battles.
Lake Boga v Swan Hill
Racecourse will face Swan Hill at the Swans’ home rink in the preliminary final this Saturday after the Swans were triumphant in their elimination final against Lake Boga.
The Swans won comfortably 82-62, thanks to dominating rinks two (26-11) and three (40-15).
Rink one fared much better for Lake Boga, with skipper Ken Hamill and his crew defeating the Swans’ team of Lyndon Shadbolt, Frank Jacka, William King and Rod Wardle 36-16.
While it was a disappointing end to the campaign for Boga, they can be happy to have returned to finals.
The Swans are specialists at missing the double chance and making grand finals, but they will have their work cut out against a strong Racecourse outfit.
