A Josh Thornton-led masterclass has helped Murray Downs inflict upon Racecourse their first loss of the 2023-24 weekend bowls pennant season.
The reigning premiers were forced to earn the six points as Racecourse won two of the three rinks to remain on top of the Division 1 ladder.
With Racecourse’s Mick Holyoak and his team securing a 10-shot win over Brian Lehmann, and Norm Smith’s side holding on to record a three-shot victory over John Caldwell, Murray Down’s hopes fell onto the shoulders of Thornton and his team.
The combination of Thornton, Matt O’Bree, David Alderuccio and Garry McCaig proved unstoppable, dominating the Glenn McKissack-led Racecourse outfit from start to finish, to record a comfortable 43-12 win, and wipe out the 13-shot advantage held by last year’s runners-up on the other two rinks, with Murray Downs eventually walking away with a 79 shot to 61 win.
Moulamein and Lake Boga tightened their grip on a top four place after commanding victories over Nyah District and Swan Hill respectively.
Moulamein proved too strong at home, defeating the Demons 91-55 and going agonisingly close to walking away with the full 12 points.
In the end, the home side had to settle for 11, with Martin Stephens and Rex Howard unable to be separated at the end of 25 ends, with the two combinations locked at 23 shots apiece.
It was a different story on the remaining two rinks, with Aaron Worboyes recording a 15-shot win over Bruce Macdonald and Dennis Compton’s team defeating Bryan Smith’s outfit 37-16.
Lake Boga moved 12 points clear of Swan Hill inside the top four after completing an 80-48 shot win over the Swans.
Both teams headed into the fixture locked on 36 points from the opening five rounds, but Lake Boga now hold a significant advantage in the race for a finals berth.
Peter Philp and his team of Ron Atkinson, Maxwell Parsons and Helen Jobling caused Swan Hill the most problems, completing an 18-shot victory over Frank Jacka’s team, while Daniel Kelly had a 12-shot win over Greg Scandolera. Ken Hamill completed the day with a two-shot defeat of Brian Quaife’s team.
Meanwhile, Murray Downs’ Brian Lehmann is the MVPA Men’s State Singles champion for season 2023-24 after defeating Moulamein’s Martin Stephens 25-10 in Sunday’s final.
Lehmann defeated Racecourse’s Norm Smith 25-18 in the semi-final, while Stephens defeated Swan Hill’s Brian Quaife 25-11 to move through to the decider.
In the women’s MVPA State Singles grand final, Racecourse’s Lyndal Taylor was crowned the champion, defeating Tooleybuc’s Dannielle Adams 25-21 in the final.
