KERANG GOLF
THE pennant competition is off and running, with both our midweek and Saturday pennant teams having completed their first games over the past week, with some new faces appearing.
Welcome to our new players and our old members as well – enjoy your season.
This year, Kerang Golf had two teams playing in the midweek Division 2 section (although that has now changed) and both recorded wins on day one.
The No.1 team won at Pyramid Hill on both rinks and by a massive 64 shots to 20, with Lorraine Ritchie’s team up by 15 and Jim McLeish’s winning by 29.
Team 2 travelled to Cohuna to tackle Cohuna 2 and came home victorious in a close game, Judy McKerrow’s team leading the way with a 13-shot win and Dave Randell’s team losing by three.
Well done to both teams on a great start to the year.
However, after the NDPA match committee instructed that our No.1 team play in the Division 1 of the competition, with the club has reluctantly agreed to join that competition.
What happens next will be a redraw and points reallocation, so the season basically starts again.
Saturday was a busy day, with all teams playing at home.
In the Northern Valley competition we played against crosstown rivals Kerang, who had a recruiting spree over the off-season.
It was an entertaining match with Kerang Golf holding a slight advantage at the break, however at the final siren, it was Kerang who had the upper hand on one rink and an overall win by seven shots, winning on only that one rink.
For Golf, Frank Ritchie’s team had a big win against Dale Hancock by 10 shots and Dallas Mathers overcame the Jason Lunghusen team over the last few ends to win by two shots.
Well done Dallas and team, however, this was not enough to cover the Ritchie Murray deficit against Brian Bowles.
In the NDPA Division 2 game, Kerang Golf were pitted against Cohuna Golf 3 and went down on all rinks, with our best result being a three-shot loss to Greg Beck’s team.
In Division 3, the Kerang Golf team got off to a flying start against Barham 5, with wins on all rinks and a 16-shot win.
Noel Robertson, Rob Curtis, Trevor Linton and Neil Paul were the winners of the Royal Hotel vouchers for this week. I think Noel used his to celebrate on Saturday night when we had the first of our Royal Hotel nights.
The other winners were Graeme Hayes by 13 shots and Gary Borg by 11 in what was a great start to the year for our Division 3 team.
On the tournament scene, winners are grinners, with Frank and Lorraine Ritchie and Jim and Sonia McLeish winning the Wakool star day tournament on Sunday, October 6 – well done.
Meanwhile, Graeme Hayes took a team to Quambatook last Thursday where they were pre-tournament favourites and well on the way to victory, until they succumbed in game three.
Ask Noel or Stuey Robbo about their lack of stamina or the eight they conceded along the way.
Thursday social bowls had 23 players and both fours and triples played in very pleasant, sunny conditions on a very well prepared green.
At the end of two games, the winners were Nick Jarman, Marlene Rawson, Rosie Laughlin and Trevor Linton, just in front of Jim McLeish, Rob Curtis, Bryce McLeish and Craig Hicks, who had to settle for runners-up.
The chocolates went to Dave Randell, Neill Paul, Mari Miller and John Murphy.
Entries for the men’s Club Championship close this coming Sunday, so please put your names on the entry sheet on the noticeboard if you wish to play in this event.
All other event entry sheets are on the noticeboard as well.
The Claire Spinks Memorial any combination, ladies must skip, three bowl triples tournament is coming up on Thursday, October 24.
Entries have been slow coming in, so please get a team organised and lets have a big day and remember our champion bowler Claire.
The Terry White triples is our next tournament on Thursday, November 7, with fliers to be distributed this week, so again, please get your teams organised.
Twilight triples will commence tomorrow night and it looks like we will have 14 teams participating, with good promotional work having been done by club members to increase participation in this enjoyable format.
If you would like to be part of our barefoot bowls, please feel free to contact Aldo on 0407 310 762 or our president Jim McLeish on 0429 346 418 or any Golf Bowls member for more information.
KERANG
AS there were only 12 players available for Black Duck, the event was called off, but that didn’t mean bowls was called off all together.
Twelve players battled the conditions and the winners of the social afternoon was L.Gray, P.Waters and Y.Summers with a 17-shot victory.
As there was no jackpot to speak of, the amount up for grabs next hasn’t varied at all.
The first round of the Northern District and Northern Valley seasons were contested in perfect conditions with our four teams bringing home one win and that going to Kerang 1.
With the injection of youth among the new players, there is a definite feel of positivity around the place.
Practices are picking up in numbers with pies being the after-training feed the last two weeks, I believe next week will be party pies and sausage rolls.
Kerang 1 took part in a dour struggle against crosstown rivals Kerang Golf and came out on top by seven shots on a pleasant green.
Team Bowles came out on top by 19 shots against Murray to partially carry the load for the other two rinks.
Team Lunghusen went down to Mathers by two shots and team Hancock by 10 to Ritchie.
With a full contingent now available for selection, frequent headaches are on their way for the selectors, which is a nice problem to have in the new revamped Northern Valley competition.
Kerang 1 now reacquaint themselves with Racecourse in Swan Hill who had a good win over Murray Downs.
Kerang 2 travelled interstate, be it only by metres to Barham, and walked away also-rans to the tune of 32 shots.
Team Hein flew the flag for Kerang 2 with a staunch two shot win over an experienced Bagg, while team Pay went down to Patterson by 10 shots and team Frantz by 24.
Teams will settle in weeks to come, so keep your heads up and keep pushing, with Kerang 2 welcoming Gunbower 1 next week.
After greeting the Wakool 2 side, Kerang 3 suffered the same fate as the twos with a 16-shot overall loss.
The lone rangers were team Davies, who got up by two shots.
Teams Rosewall and Marshall were defeated by 16 and two shots, respectively.
It is only round 1 and things can turn around quickly, while Kerang 3 will take Cohuna Golf 2 over there this week.
Kerang 4 walked away from their first outing with a one-shot loss, with team McBain almost getting the three teams over the line with a 10-shot performance to the good.
Team Coobs fought tooth and nail to scramble a draw while team Neville went down by 11 shots.
Next week Kerang 4 travel to play Leitchville 2.
It is only round 1 and there is no need to be panicky just yet, keep working hard on your games with Teasa’s drills testing everyone and we can only improve as the season progresses.
Just a side note, we have an ex-member whose heart is still Kerang Bowling Club in Daniel Baker, who is representing the Northern Territory in the National Sides Championship playing as a skipper.
Also, after that competition, ‘Bakes’ plays in the National Championships in the singles with these competitions being on YouTube and Facebook.
The Kerang Midweekers also started their midweek competition this week and Kerang 1 copped the wrong end of the stick under cover at Barham, while Kerang 2 also went down over at Cohuna Golf.
Kerang 1 travelled to Barham and were welcomed with a 34-shot loss, with the Barham combination looking formidable and certainly played the part.
Kerang 1 had one-rink win, with team Pocock getting the chocolates by five shots over Lisa Critten.
Team Hamon and Bowles had days they’d rather forget, with 15 and 24-shot losses, respectively.
This week Kerang 1 play at home to Cohuna Golf 1.
Kerang 2 went over to the Cohuna Golf Course for a morning of good competition and that’s just what they got.
Team Monoghan just went down by three shots with team Frantz going down by 22 shots for an overall loss by 25 shots.
Kerang 2 look forward to their meeting with Pyramid Hill 2.
Plenty of time in the season to rectify any inconsistencies and I’m sure the selectors will be trying to do just that.
A reminder that the club singles start on Thursday.
Trevor Pocock and Kevin Teasdale entered the State Pairs and won their section and have the right of way through to the final.
All of us at the club congratulate you in what was a tough section, with the final being held at Pyramid Hill on Sunday.
Good luck teams and go Black Ducks!
NDPA Midweek Pennant Teams for Tuesday, October 16
Kerang 1 v Cohuna Golf at home: M.Hamon, K.Watts, M.Orr, C.Fisher; D.Murray, A.Fagg, J.Hipwell, S.Pascoe; T.Pocock, B.Theobald, H.McBain, B.Williams.
Kerang 2 v Pyramid Hill 2 at home: J.Adams, J.Maddox, T.Nolan, R.Hipwell; R.Frantz, D.Monoghan, J.Harrison, H.Pendlebury.
COHUNA GOLF
ACTIVITIES began with our social bowls on Tuesday, with three-bowl triples being the game of the day.
The winners turned out to be Yvonne Eckhardt, Robyn Alford and Barb Barry, well done to you all.
A night’s rest and on to midweek pennant for the first time, with our teams hosting Barham 2 and Kerang 3.
Both started the season well with all rinks taking the honours, with Ian Morrison having a big win in the twos, while the winning scores in the ones were nearly all identical.
Last-end winners of Kimmy’s vouchers were Mick Carmody, Pat Quinn, Bruce Morrison and Yvonne Eckhardt.
There will be activity on Wednesday, with our night series lining up for week one, giving organisers a chance to check out the talent and sort out teams.
All are welcome, bowlers or not, and everything except ability can be supplied, with names to be in by 7.15pm.
Numbers at our Thursday pairs dropped a little with counter-attractions, but a solid turnout saw guests from Gunbower, Cohuna and Barham swell the numbers.
Overall winners were Peter Coates and Mary Rodwell, while Pat Quinn and Lyle Baker annexed the repechage prize, with Kimmy’s vouchers going the way of Mal Hogan and Noelene Brown.
After a substantial back-to-pennant tea on Friday night (great work social committee), four pennant sides faced up on Saturday to do battle, with two sides at home.
It was terrific to see past president Tucker Peace back on deck to watch the games after major surgery, albeit still a little restricted in his action.
In the inaugural Northern Valley clash, our lads took it right up to a strengthened Barham side and came away with two rink wins and an overall margin of nine shots.
The Bower vouchers went the way of Harrison Keely, Colin Barton, Frank Trezise and Col Black for their eight-shot victory, which was a great start to this innovative competition.
Next door, Division 1 played Wakool, with little separating the overall scores all game, although there were some big fluctuations in the individual matches.
Pat Quinn got right away from Jean Fairchild and finished up by 26, while Gary Easton chased hard against Guy Treweek to go down by 10, with the Bibby-Main result going Wakool’s way by two.
Division 2 travelled to Kerang Golf and really outdid themselves, with all rinks scoring match points, two teams up by 15 and one by three.
On a quick green, our draw bowling skills really came to the fore, with Des Keely’s all-lady rink deserving special mention.
The Gunny Golfers met Leitchville at the ’Bower, and they too rounded out a perfect day with a solid victory.
Lyle Baker and John Prout won decisively, while Dawn Miller was the only one to drop points, with the final tally showing 11 shots to the good.
Well done to all players and especially those who made themselves available late in the week.
This week the versatility tournament is an addition to our normal roster, we trust the weather will hold to enable its completion on Thursday.
NDPA Midweek Pennant Teams for Tuesday, October 16
Division 1 v Kerang 1 away: P.Bibby (s), L.Mathers, L.McManus, G. Campbell; Y.Eckhardt (s), B.Morrison, P.Quinn, I.Trezise; F.Trezise (s), P.McManus, R.Bibby, N.Brown.
Division 2 v Cohuna 3 away: C.Baker (s), M.Henshaw, J.Sutherland, L.Baker; I.Morrison (s), M.Rodwell, L.Keely, S.Brown.
