MURRAY DOWNS
SOCIAL bowls last week was won by a pair, Dave Griffin and Cath Parry, well done.
Members rostered for duty next week are Darryl and Mary Barry.
Last Sunday’s President’s Day Tournament sponsored by Graham Wealth attracted 60 bowlers from visiting clubs Racecourse, Swan Hill, Lake Boga, Manangatang and Tooleybuc, as well as our own members.
Congratulations to the winners – Buck Lehmann, Helen Frame (Racecourse) and Bob Napier.
Runners-up were Dave Griffin, Mal O’Bree and Greg Ryan (Manangatang).
Third placegetters were Sue White, Graham Muir and Julie Ryan (Manangatang).
Another successful tournament, well done to the tournament committee and the many helpers on the day.
Barefoot bowls started last week with a great turnout.
Unfortunately, due to the stormy conditions and high temperature on Tuesday it was cancelled this week, however it will resume next week, weather permitting.
Finals begin on Saturday and Murray Downs have four out of our five teams participating.
Midweek Pennant finals also begin on Tuesday with three out of our four teams making it through. Great effort. Good luck to all teams.
Also, wishing good luck to Josh Thornton and Lisa Critten in the finals of the Champion of Champions to be completed this Sunday at Swan Hill Bowls Club.
Weekend Pennant – Saturday teams
Division 1: Murray Downs 1 v Racecourse at Swan Hill – G.McCaig, D.Alderuccio, M.O’Bree, J.Thornton (manager); K.Rowe, P.Brook, M.Hollingworth, J.Caldwell; C.Power, M.Tempini, H.Whitford, B.Lehmann. NOTE: Practice arranged at Swan Hill 5pm on Friday.
Division 2: Murray Downs 2 v Racecourse 2 at home – J.Alderuccio, G.Robertson, D.Barry, K.O’Bree; N.Martin, K.Power, D.Fisher, D.Uebergang; D.Caldwell, C.McCaig (manager), J.Wilson, R.Wilson.
Division 2: Murray Downs 3 v Balranald 1 at home – C.Rovere, N.Weir, D.Angus, T.Furnell (manager); B.McComb, A.Bookham, G.Whitla, K.Burrage; L.Roberts, J.Boyd, P.Furnell, N.Brown.
Division 3: Murray Downs 4 v Racecourse 3 at Lake Boga – C.Parry (manager), D.Holland, P.Mangano, D.Deighton; M.Brown, N.Delmenico, L.Toomer, R.Smith; W.Murray, B.Deighton, M.Martin, C.Fox
Midweek Pennant – Tuesday teams
Division 1: Murray Downs 1 v Murray Downs 2 at home (duty) – L.Critten (manager), M.O’Bree, K.Rowe, J.Boyd; J.Wilson, G.McCaig, C.Rovere, R.Wilson.
Division 1: Murray Downs 2 v Murray Downs 1 at home – T.Furnell (manager), D.Fisher, N.Weir, P.Furnell; C.McCaig, H.Whitford, D.Griffin, D.Holland.
Division 2: Murray Downs 3 v Lake Boga at home – D.Angus, D.Barry, C.Parry, K.Burrage; D.Scown, K.O’Bree, D.Deighton, D.Timmins.
Emergencies: Vicki O’Bree, Carl Fox.
RACECOURSE
CONGRATULATIONS to all our pennant teams, both Saturday and Midweek – they will all play finals.
Three teams are in the first semi-finals of their various grades, and six will contest the right to go straight into the grand final.
Good luck to all the Saturday teams on Saturday and to the Midweek players on Tuesday.
Our Wednesday jackpot bowls was played in ideal conditions. The winners, with two wins and + 8 shots, were Bruce Horsburgh and Max Renney.
Runners-up with one win and + 7 shots, were Bryan Bice and Gerard Maher.
Play starts at 9.30am. Names need to be in by 8.45am.
Night bowls started its second round for this season on Wednesday at 7pm.
The winners were Jono Wright, John White and Jackie Crawford – The Triple Js.
There is still plenty of room for more teams or more single entries.
It’s a fun night, with cheese and biscuit supper after, so players can review the matches and have lots of laughs.
Club triples played its grand final on Wednesday, with Trevor Wiseman, Val Lindsay and Ernie Russell successful.
Well done, and well done to the runners-up too – Kylie Gardner, Greg Schack, and Phil Parry – for an entertaining match.
There are lots of other club events which must be played ASAP.
Weekend Pennant – Saturday teams
Division 1: Racecourse 1 v Murray Downs 1 at Swan Hill – G.McKissack, R.Hayes, P.Loughran, Nev Smith; M.Holyoak, DJ Weaver, S.Domaille, G.Bennett; N.Smith (manager), G.McIntosh, K.Gardner, R.Wolfe. Emergency – D Jonkers.
Division 2: Racecourse 2 v Murray Downs 2 at Murray Downs – B.Bice, N.Roberts, A.Lindsay, J.Beard; T.Wiseman, R.Doran, A.Threadgold, J.Ford; B.Horsburgh (manager), G.Bailey, K.Vivian, D.McCarron. Emergency – J Wilcox.
Division 3: Racecourse 3 v Murray Downs 4 at Lake Boga – L.Taylor, R.Wardle, C.Power, T.Evans; E.Russell, G.Schack, I.Lawry, P.Parry; I.Lockhart, R.Rust (manager), K.Duthie, P.Hooper. Emergency – K McKissack.
Division 3: Racecourse 4 v Lake Boga 2 at Lake Boga – C.Smith (manager), M.Hooper, H.Frame, B.Mason; R.Schack, D.Doran, H.Vander Veen, K.Roberts. A.Taylor, F.Devereux, V.Lindsay, B.McIntosh.
Division 4: Racecourse 5 v Manangatang 2 at Nyah – L.Loats (manager), B.Warren, G.Maher, K.Foott; K.Bailey, G.Harwood, R.Harrop L McKay. Emergency – E Renney.
Midweek Pennant – Tuesday teams
Division 1: Racecourse 1 v Racecourse 2 at Murray Downs – D.Doran, R.Hayes, T.Wiseman, K.Roberts; R.Schack, N.Smith (manager), N.Roberts, M.Hooper.
Division 1: Racecourse 2 v Racecourse 1 at Murray Downs – C.Smith (manager), G.Bennett, H.Frame, J.Ford; F.Devereux, Nev Smith, G.McIntosh, V.Lindsay.
Division 2: Racecourse 3 v Racecourse 4, at Murray Downs –L.Loats (manager), K.Vivian, J.Threadgold, C.Power; E.Lawry, P.Loughran, I.Lockhart, M.Smith.
Division 2: Racecourse 4 v Racecourse 3 at Murray Downs – L.Taylor, D.Weaver, E.Renney, K.Bailey; A.Taylor, R.Rust, L.McKay (manager), T.Evans.
SWAN HILL
SWAN Hill Bowls Classic on The Murray two-bowl triples is on next week, Wednesday and Thursday, February 21 and 22.
There are still some spaces left, be quick, entries will close at 10am on Monday.
Excellent prizemoney, $4500 to be distributed between first, second, third and fourth placegetters, and money back for best game winners in each game.
Entry fee $180 per team, $60 per single, which includes bowls, morning teas, lunches and afternoon teas.
Contact M. Balchin, 0428 553 913, or Bill King, 0428 324 083.
Friday Frolic awaits some lucky team to crack the jackpot of $200-plus and if this doesn’t happen there will be a mini-draw for $100.
Enter the draw to play bowls by 2.30pm ready to start at 3pm and you are in with a chance.
The lucky draw will take place in the clubhouse after the game along with happy hour, a snack and Mick’s raffles.
All welcome to join in for bowls or just come for some after the game socialising.
Barefoot bowling banter at 6.15pm for anyone wishing to give bowls a go. Contact Stuart Tompsett on 0429 008 386.
On Saturday the Murray Valley Playing Area Division 1 first and second semi-finals are being played at Swan Hill Bowls Club starting 1.30pm.
Spectators most welcome to come and watch two great games of bowls, bring your umbrella. Murray Downs 1 v Racecourse 1 and Moulamein 1 v Lake Boga 1. Refreshments available.
Last Saturday, Swan Hill ones defeated Nyah with two of the three rinks up, to win by 10 shots overall.
G. McGrath d K. Coburn by 15 shots, G. Evans d R. Howard by six. Swan Hill just missed out on making it into the top four by a few points.
Division 2 were unable to get over Racecourse 2 with J. Tompson’s rink being the only winner for the day against Trevor Wiseman’s team.
There were not enough players available for Team 4 to finish off the season.
Midweek Tuesday pennant season also ended on Tuesday for Swan Hill’s Division 1 and 2 teams in the hot windy weather conditions.
The Division 1 game ceased play after 43 ends due to some players stressed from the extreme heat, this being enough ends played for a result with Murray Downs ahead by 10 shots overall.
Swan Hill missed out on making the final four by five points.
Division 2 completed their game with Racecourse 4 winning by 11 shots overall.
L. Tompsett, R. Poole, D. McBeath and S. Tompsett won their rink 22-18 against A. Taylor’s team.
Division 2 finished a credible sixth on the ladder out of 10 teams.
All the best to all teams that have made it to the finals.
Sunday will see Swan Hill’s Glen Evans playing in the Champion of Champion finals at Swan Hill Bowls Club 9.30am start.
Good luck Glen.
LAKE BOGA
LAST week was the last round for the pennant season before the finals.
All our pennant players, both midweek and weekend players, can hold their head up high with our clubs result for the year, four of our six teams are in the finals.
Division 1 had a win against Racecourse, winning two of the three rinks and overall by one shot, confirming their fourth position on the ladder. The result came down to the last end of the day.
Division 3 had a convincing win against Racecourse, winning all three rinks with a margin of 35 shots. They finished the year in second position on the ladder.
Division 4, Team 3, also had a convincing win against Manangatang, winning one of the two rinks by 18 shots and the second was a draw, confirming their fourth position on the ladder.
Our other Division 4 team, Team 4 won one rink against Racecourse, lost the second but only went down by three shots,
Midweek Division 1 defeated Murray Downs 2, who hold second place on the ladder, by four shots but unfortunately did not make the finals.
Division 2, while being beaten by Racecourse 3 with a margin of three, still hold third place on the ladder.
The best of good bowling to all our players competing in the first round of finals this weekend and next week.
Social bowls this week was won by Ray Leach, Leigh Kingsbury and Brian Fowles.
Reminder to club members of our general meeting on Tuesday at 7.30pm.
Weekend Pennant – Saturday teams
Division 1: Lake Boga 1 v Moulamein 1 at Swan Hill – P.Philps, L.Swan, R.Wickham, H.Jobling; D.Kelly, A.Shields, G.Davies, B.Smith; K.Hamill, I.Ross, R.Atkinson, J.McCormack.
Division 3: Lake Boga 2 v Racecourse 4 at home – P.Snell, M.Lord, S.Meehan, M.Parsons; G.Davis, L.Kingsbury, J.Hamill, N.Hender; D.Condy, M.O’Meara, K.Kendall, K.Anderson.
Division 4: Lake Boga 3 v Nyah District 2 away – R.Jolley, John Pye, S.Swan, J.Robertson; J.Leach, R.Dewhurst, L.Dewhurst, B.McDonald.
Midweek Pennant – Tuesday teams
Division 2: Lake Boga 2 v Murray Downs 3 away – J.Leach, P.Snell, R.Leach, L.Dewhurst; S.Swan, R.Atkinson, N.Hender, B.Davies.
MVPA
THE finals of the men’s and ladies’ Champion of Champions singles will be played at Swan Hill on Sunday morning. Matches start at 9.30am.
The ladies’ final pits Lisa Critten (Murray Downs) against Helen Jobling (Lake Boga).
In the men’s event, the semi-finals are between Ken Hamill (Lake Boga) and Glen Evans (Swan Hill), and Josh Thornton (Murray Downs) and Matt Coates (Balranald Ex Services).
The final of the men’s singles will be played in the afternoon.
Saturday sees the semi-finals for Saturday Pennant for this season. Good luck to all teams who have successfully made it this far.
Division 1 matches will both be played on neutral ground at Swan Hill. The first semi-final is between Moulamein 1 and Lake Boga 1.
Moulamein has posted two wins over Boga, but Boga was successful in their last match-up.
The second semi, between Murray Downs 1 and Racecourse 1, pits two sides bent on redemption after losses last week. Murray Downs leads in the head-to-head encounters 2-1.
Division 2’s first semi-final, at Murray Downs, features Murray Downs 3 and Balranald Ex Services 1.
Murray Downs lead by two wins to one over the season and have done well at home. A tough match for Balranald.
In the second semi, Murray Downs 2 and Racecourse 2 fight for the quick entry to the grand final.
Racecourse won the first encounter, Murray Downs won the next, and scraped home by a single point in their recent match–up.
Division 3 starts with Murray Downs 4 and Racecourse 3 playing the first semi at Lake Boga. These two have played three great contests with Racecourse leading by a single point over the season.
Racecourse 4 plays Lake Boga 2, with Racecourse posting three wins this year. However, Lake Boga was in great form last week, and this should be a cracker of a match.
Division 4’s first semi-final is between Nyah District 2 and Lake Boga 3. Division 4 matches will be played at Nyah.
Nyah holds a two-zip lead over Boga 3, but finals are a different beast, and this should be a ripper of a game.
The second semi pits the two form sides – Racecourse 5 and Manangatang 2 – to battle for the spot in the grand final.
Each side boasts one win this year, so this match should be an interesting showdown.
All Midweek Pennant semi-finals will be played at Murray Downs.
In Division 1, the first semi pits Racecourse 1 against Racecourse 2.
Team 1 had its colours well and truly lowered by its sibling last week, and will be searching for a form reversal. On neutral ground it will be a real tough never-say-die contest.
The second semi sees Murray Downs 1 and 2 do battle for bragging rights.
Murray Downs 1 has a two-match-to-one lead on its rival and again this should be a terrific match-up.
In the Division 2 first semi, Lake Boga 2 plays Murray Downs 3 to stay in the contest. The Murray Downs combination has won both its matches against Boga, and will be confident going into this one.
In a third intra-club game, Racecourse 3 plays Racecourse 4 for entry to the grand final. With one win apiece, this should be another sizzler of a game.
RESULTS
Saturday Pennant
Round 15
Division 1: Moulamein 1 10/67 d Murray Downs 1 2/63, Swan Hill 1 10/70 d Nyah District 1 2/60, Lake Boga 1 10/75 d Racecourse 1 2/74.
Division 2: Murray Downs 3 10/76 d Manangatang 1 2/56, Murray Downs 2 10/75 d Balranald Ex Services 1 2/63, Racecourse 2 10/91 d Swan Hill 2 2/52.
Division 3: Moulamein 2 8/74 d Murray Downs 4 4/71, Racecourse 4 11/87 d Tooleybuc 1 1/65, Lake Boga 2 12/94 d Racecourse 3 0/59.
Division 4: Racecourse 5 8/38 d Lake Boga 3 2/35, Lake Boga 4 9/41 d Manangatang 2 1/23, Nyah District 2 d Swan Hill 3 (forfeit), Murray Downs 5 – bye.
Midweek Pennant
Round 15
Division 1: Murray Downs 1 10/41 d Swan Hill 1 0/31, Racecourse 2 10/74 d Racecourse 1 0/43, Lake Boga 1 8/45 d Murray Downs 2 2/41.
Division 2: Racecourse 3 8/49 d Lake Boga 2 2/46, Racecourse 4 8/55 d Swan Hill 2 2/44, Manangatang 1 d Balranald Ex Services 1 (forfeit), Murray Downs 3 10/71 d Nyah District 1 0/24, Tooleybuc 1 8/56 d Murray Downs 4 2/50.
LADDERS
Saturday Pennant
Division 1
Murray Downs 1 – 144
Racecourse 1 – 139
Moulamein 1 – 98
Lake Boga 1 – 74
Swan Hill 1 – 64
Nyah District 1 – 21
Division 2
Murray Downs 2 – 126
Racecourse 2 – 116
Murray Downs 3 – 105
Balranald Ex Services 1 – 89
Manangatang 1 – 69
Swan Hill 2 – 35
Division 3
Racecourse 4 – 110
Lake Boga 2 – 104
Murray Downs 4 – 89
Racecourse 3 – 87
Moulamein 2 – 79
Tooleybuc 1 – 71
Division 4
Racecourse 5– 117
Manangatang 2 – 111
Nyah District 2 – 106
Lake Boga 3 – 94
Lake Boga 4 – 65
Murray Downs 5 – 61
Swan Hill 3 – 46
Midweek Pennant
Division 1
Murray Downs 1 – 123
Murray Downs 2 – 85
Racecourse 1 – 77
Racecourse 2 – 60
Swan Hill 1 – 55
Lake Boga 1 – 50
Division 2
Racecourse 4 – 111
Racecourse 3 – 94 (117%)
Lake Boga 2 – 94 (96%)
Murray Downs 3 – 89
Tooleybuc 1 – 84
Swan Hill 2 – 66
Balranald Ex Services 1 – 63
Murray Downs 4 – 59
Manangatang 1 – 52
Nyah District 1 – 38
