MURRAY Downs’ season has come to an end after they were defeated in the Northern Valley Premier League preliminary final against Cohuna Golf by four shots.
In the only match of the weekend, Cohuna Golf were considered the favourites despite falling off against Kerang the weekend before, but Murray Downs were hungry for the win as well.
The Rams skipper Josh Thornton and his rink gave everything they could to help Murray Downs, as they won their rink 27 shots to 18 shots.
But unfortunately, it just wasn’t enough for the Rams as they fell short on the other rinks, with John Caldwell and his rink losing 28 shots to 25 shots, while Brian Lehamnn’s rink lost 27 shots to 17 shots.
The overall result was 73 shots and 10 points for Cohuna Golf with Murray Downs having 69 shots and two points, so Cohuna Golf will move on with confidence.
It was a hot and windy contest, which made it the more difficult to win a match, but Cohuna Golf president John Keely stated that the greens were rolled perfectly.
“The wind made it hard work and it added to the challenge,” he said.
“But the greens were in great condition so there were certainly no complaints.”
With the win, they now go up this weekend to face Kerang, which is the only side in the competition that has been able to get the better of Cohuna Golf.
The Black Ducks will be feeling confident this weekend, they will play with all their might to get the job done and get the win.
Cohuna Golf have faced Kerang four times prior to this weekend, Cohuna Golf won the first two matches comfortably, winning 12 points to zero on the first game and then eleven points to one in the second match-up.
But the Black Ducks will go onto win the final game of the home-and-away season against Cohuna Golf, winning 10 points to two points.
In the semi-final, Kerang won eight points to four points in a close encounter with Jason Lunghusen’s rink being a big contributor to the win.
John Keely was asked on what the plan was for the weekend to win the match.
“The plan is to get more shots than them,” he said.
“But look at the end of the day, we played them four times, it is two-all between each other, and every game there is nothing that separates us in our games.
“I don’t expect it to be any different on this Sunday, it’s going to be difficult, you’ve just got to bowl harder and bowl better than your opponent.”
The Northern Valley Premier League grand final will be played on Sunday at the Cohuna Bowls Club, proving to be a neutral venue for both teams.
In the Murray Valley Playing Area, Murray Downs 2 defeated Lake Boga 1 in what was a hot, windy but exciting contest.
It was a tight match-up on all three rinks but Kenneth O’Bree’s rink proved to be a main difference, winning 23 shots to 17 shots.
Murray Downs 2 will be playing against Moulamein 1 in the Murray Valley Playing Area Division One grand final which will be played this Saturday at the Swan Hill Bowls Club.
