AS THE Murray Valley Playing Arena Weekend Pennant competition is set to get under way tomorrow afternoon, The Guardian takes an in-depth look at the six Division 1 teams that will do battle in season 2023-24 – Murray Downs being the almost unbackable favourites to go back-to-back-to-back.
LAKE BOGA
CHAIRPERSON – Grant Davies
LAST SEASON – Semi finalist
IN – None
OUT – None
2023-24 SKIPPERS – To be determined
WORD FROM THE CHAIRPERSON
GRANT DAVIES
What are your expectations for this season? We’re just aiming to be competitive and enjoy our bowls.
Other than yourselves, who is the team to beat? Murray Downs are always a very strong team but in saying that everyone’s beatable and they’re no different.
If we are to win the premiership, it will be because of… our will to be competitive and the strength and determination of our small club.
The final word After finishing last year’s home-and-away season third on the ladder, Lake Boga will be hoping to take the next step in 2023-24 and become genuine contenders. Having won the Division 3 premiership last year and with strong numbers seeing them enter four weekend pennant teams, there is a positive vibe around what Lake Boga could produce this season.
MOULAMEIN
CHAIRPERSON – Martin Stephens
LAST SEASON – Fifth
IN – Darren Arthur (returning)
OUT – None
2023-24 SKIPPERS – To be determined
WORD FROM THE CHAIRPERSON
MARTIN STEPHENS
What are your expectations for this season? We’d be disappointed if we didn’t play finals this season. The floods affected us badly last season. We missed six games in the end, which didn’t help our chances of making finals, so that will be our aim this year: to play finals.
Other than yourselves, who is the team to beat? Murray Downs will be very strong. They’ve got a good calibre of bowlers and high-quality bowlers, but they are still beatable.
If we are to win the premiership, it will be because… we will have played to our potential.
The final word After picking up several recruits last season, Moulamein looked primed to make a move and challenge the Swan Hill clubs – that was until mother nature intervened. Instead, the Swans missed six matches due to the floods, ruining their finals hopes before the season got under way. Season 2023-24 appears to be a very different scenario, however, and anything less than a finals appearance will be viewed as a missed opportunity.
MURRAY DOWNS
CHAIRPERSON – Garry McCaig
LAST SEASON – Premiers
IN – Phil Mangano (Swan Hill)
OUT – None
2023-24 SKIPPERS – Josh Thornton, Brian Lehmann, John Caldwell
WORD FROM THE CHAIRPERSON
GARRY McCAIG
What are your expectations for this season? We hope to secure a three-peat. We’re hoping to have a strong season both on and off the green. We won’t be any less competitive than we were last year.
Other than yourselves, who is the team to beat? Racecourse are our main danger in terms of competition. The other two teams that I’d expect to make the finals will be Moulamein and Lake Boga.
If we are to win the premiership, it will be because… we have the three best skippers in the competition and that’s a huge bonus.
The final word Will go in as the team to beat once again and should make it three straight Division 1 titles with everything going right. Will most likely get off to a slow start as Josh Thornton is set to miss the first three matches and ‘Buck’ Lehmann, John Caldwell and ‘Shorty’ McCaig are also set to miss some early games. Still have the best playing squad and will be hard to beat at the business end of the season.
NYAH DISTRICT
CHAIRPERSON – Bryan Smith
LAST SEASON – Sixth
IN – None
OUT – Graham Muir (Manangatang), Mal O’Bree (Manangatang)
2023-24 SKIPPERS – To be determined
WORD FROM THE CHAIRPERSON
BRYAN SMITH
What are your expectations for this season? We’d like to make the final four, even though last year we didn’t win a game. It was all about who could win a rink at times last year because we were just missing players at crucial times. There’s only one way for us to go now and that’s up.
Other than yourselves, who is the team to beat? With the way things have fallen at a few other clubs this year, I think Murray Downs will be favourites for the flag.
If we are to win the premiership, it will be because of… a lot of luck.
The final word Having finished last on the Division 1 ladder and lost two quality bowlers in Muir and O’Bree, 2023-24 could well be a long season for the Demons. Will still be capable of causing an upset – especially with Bryan Smith still leading the way – but are unlikely to feature in finals calculations.
RACECOURSE
CHAIRPERSON – Norm Smith
LAST SEASON – Runner’s up
IN – Glenn McKissack (Quambatook)
OUT – Mark Snel, Mikayla Evans
2023-24 SKIPPERS – Mick Holyoak, Norm Smith, Glenn McKissack
WORD FROM THE CHAIRPERSON
NORM SMITH
What are your expectations for this season? We’ll be competitive in most grades and midweek pennant too. We’re looking forward to the season starting and seeing where we end up.
Other than yourselves, who is the team to beat? I believe it’ll be between Murray Downs, us and possibly Moulamein as the main chances. I expect Moulamein will improve and Murray Downs are always hard to beat.
If we are to win the premiership, it will be because of… the improvement in our younger bowlers, like Shane Domaille, David Jonkers, Kylie Gardner and DJ Weaver. The improvement in them, along with the addition of Glenn McKissack, will give us a good chance.
The final word After being the main challengers to Murray Downs’ throne last year, Racecourse will once again be hoping to take it up to the two-time reigning premiers this season. While the loss of Mark Snel and Mikayla Evans will hurt, the addition of high-class bowler Glenn McKissack will give them a major boost.
SWAN HILL
CHAIRPERSON – Mick Balchin
LAST SEASON – Preliminary finalist
IN – None
OUT – Brian Mansbridge (Barham), Lyndon Shadbolt (Barham), Phil Mangano (Swan Hill)
2023-24 SKIPPERS – Greg Scandolera, Brian Richardson, Glenn Evans
WORD FROM THE CHAIRPERSON
MICK BALCHIN
What are your expectations for this season? Like everyone, we want to make the top four and play finals. If we can get to that point, then you never know what can happen.
Other than yourselves, who is the team to beat? Murray Downs will be very strong again. They’re a powerhouse side and with not many changes to most other teams, I think they’ll definitely be the team to beat.
If we are to win the premiership, it will be because of… the usual Swan Hill will to win – we never say die and always fight it out to the end.
The final word Having reached last year’s preliminary final, Swan Hill look set for a fall this season, with an exodus of quality bowlers putting their top-four spot at risk. Have been unable to replace Brian Mansbridge or Lyndon Shadbolt, who were two of their Division 1 skippers last season, after the two representative bowlers headed over to play at Barham this season. Will still be tough to beat on their day but unlikely to feature prominently at the back end of the season.
