AN eighth consecutive Division 1 victory has put Murray Downs’ bowlers in pole position in their hunt for a three-peat of Murray Valley Pennant Bowls titles.
After the 2020-21 Pennant season went unplayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Murray Downs have been the victorious side the past two seasons and look the team to beat this season.
The club’s impressive title defence continued on Saturday with a commanding performance against the team hot on their tails, Racecourse.
Playing at the home of their second-placed competitors, Murray Downs won 86 to 54. Murray Downs walked away from the strong afternoon with nine points, while Racecourse claimed three.
Competition across the rinks was fierce, but much of the damage done by Murray Downs occurred in the match between the two sides led by Josh Thornton and Glenn McIntosh.
Thornton, Matt O’Bree, David Alderuccio and Garry McCaig put their opponents to the sword, winning their rink 47 shots to Racecourse’s 10.
But the matches were much closer across the other rinks, as Ron Wolfe, David Jonkers, Kylie Gardner and Norman Smith played out a 20-shot draw with Damien Caldwell, Mick Tempini, Harry Whitford and Brian Lehmann.
Racecourse showed that they were not a team to be taken lightly, when Graham Bennett, Shane Domaille, Dylan Weaver and Mick Holyoak defeated Kevin Rowe, Peter Brook, Michael Hollingworth and John Caldwell 24 shots to 19.
The two sides sit neck-and-neck on the ladder, both with nine wins and two losses, separated only by three match points and Murray Downs’ outstanding score difference of 306.
