IT has been a busy week at Kerang Bowling Club hosting the preliminary final of Midweek Pennant bowls last Tuesday and the grand finals of Saturday Pennant on great greens expertly prepared by Shane Moffat. Our Division 2 team played Barham and Jacqui Jenkins’ team of Jenny Harrison, Marilyn Theobald and Ed Fenton was just four shots down with three ends to play but Michelle McNeil’s team was able to pick up six shots on the last three ends to win 25-15. On the other rink our team of Don Monaghan, Denise Frantz and David Randell, skipped by Jo Adams, got away to a flying start, leading 19-4 by the 10th end, and ran out 38-13 winners against Carol Gent’s team. Although they won one rink each, it was Kerang who won overall 38-25 and the earned the right to challenge Kerang Golf in the grand final at Cohuna Golf tomorrow.
Close finishes have been the order of the day in Division 1 in this finals series so far and it continued to be so last week when Cohuna came home strongly to hit the front on the score board on the last end against Cohuna Golf. Cohuna and Kerang will battle it out with the winner going through to the regional Pennant finals to be held at Barham on March 18 and 19.
Kerang Bowling Club looked set up for a festive event with umbrellas and gazebos set around the greens for the comfort of what was anticipated to be a large crowd to witness the culmination of the 2022-23 Saturday Pennant season.
Both Division 2 and 3 matches were played out between Kerang and Barham. In Division 3 each club took out “a fruit salad” of a win, a loss and a draw. Helen HcBain was under the pump on many ends but with great bowling was able to carry her team of Barb, Marilyn and Gayle through to a 20-14 win against Graeme Goodwin’s team. The rink capably skipped by Jo Adams, supported by Mick, David and Michael, were able to hang on for a draw 17-17, with Jacqui stepping up to contribute well to the team when illness forced Michael to withdraw. It was a tough day for Murray Sutherland’s team of Merv, Axel and Jenny against Gary Wishart’s four but they had all contributed throughout the season to see us playing on the big stage. One will win and one will lose, so be it. With a 50-71 overall score Barham deservedly raised aloft the Hawthorne Family Trophy presented by Luke Hawthorne.
The Division 2 match against Barham looks on paper to have been all a bit one way, however those watching would say it was anything but that. Lindsay Hein’s rink was an indication of this, with a final score 11-34 not indicating the pressure on the green. Barry, Jason and Maurie played some great shots, but as can happen in all games the jack is shifted, a bowl moves or a bowl gets an unexpected wick and the results can change dramatically. Ed Fenton’s side were down 1-17 after nine ends but with some of the aforementioned events George, David and Ross levelled the scores at 24-all on the penultimate end and Kerang scored five on the last end to take the win 29-24. Who would have believed that half way through the game? The other rink, skipped by Som Pascoe, was level on ends six and 10 then held a 26-17 lead on the 18th only to see Vic Kendall’s side make up nine shots on the last three ends to level the final score and take home the Hawthorne Family Cup.
With Divisions 2 and 3 starting earlier than usual, the entire crowd was able to witness a thrilling end to the Division 1 match between Cohuna and Cohuna Golf. After 43 years, it was Cohuna’s turn to raise high the Hawthorne Family Shield presented by Glenis Hawthorne at the end of the day. Our thanks to Glenis and Luke Hawthorne for their continued support of Northern District Bowls with all division winners taking home trophies presented in memory of Michael and previous family members who had played at Kerang Bowling Club.
Off the greens there was a hive of activity in setting up, preparing food, stocking the drinks fridges, and selling raffle tickets. Thanks to all those club members who contributed to the success of the grand final. Despite not taking home the chocolates we all had a good evening at the club after the cleaning up was done and the reward of pizza and fish and chips arrived.
At Black Duck Jackpot Two-Bowl Triples on Tuesday, 18 bowlers played in good conditions.
Two-game winners were D. Hancock, K. Pay and H. Bos on +14. Second-game winners were S. Pascoe, R. McBain and M. Tilley on +8.
The jackpot number drawn, -19, was not claimed. The jackpot increases to $354.
To play Black Duck, call the club on 5452 1194 by 8.30am for a 9.30am start, or, preferably, have names on the list on the noticeboard by the day before.
Names should be down by now for the club’s mixed pairs and men’s fours. To play, organise a team now. Men’s fours and mixed pairs entry forms are on the board.
Lots of tournaments are coming up, so please try to attend some and help make them as successful as possible.
Congratulations to Cohuna for winning their first pennant for nearly 50 years an exciting contest against Cohuna Golf 55-53.
Congratulations also to Barham, who won Divisions 2 and 3 and were too good for Kerang.
