School Sport Victoria – State Final Recap

by Team BV

Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School in Warrnambool & Bacchus Marsh College have won the annual Primary & Secondary School Sport Victoria (SSV) Competitions in 2017.
On a day where 120 students packed out the Darebin City Bowling Club greens, both winners were challenged in their respective finals and responded with victories.
2017 was the first time the School Sport Victoria Primary competition had expanded State-wide, with seven of the eight SSV Regions represented on the day.
The standard of bowls was fantastic, as was the support, as Primary School Bowlers were supported by a teacher/coach and backed by many volunteers from the school’s local bowling club.
Our Lady won through their group, which consisted of fellow far traveller, Swan Hill Primary School as well as Tintern Grammar & Thornbury Primary School. In Pool B, the 2015 & 2016 State Champions, Wattleview Primary School narrowly defeated Bruthen Primary, Essendon Primary & Chelsea Heights Primary to qualify for the final.
The final between Our Lady & Wattleview was decided by a one-end bowl off as both schools were level at 7-7, at the end of 40 minutes.
After each school had decided their best four bowlers to bowl the one-end bowl off, Our Lady’s bowlers were the closest and declared Bowls champions for the first time.
Primary results can be found here on the SSV website.
Situated about 50 meters away from the Primary competition, Bacchus Marsh set out to back up their 2016 State Championship efforts against some new Secondary qualifiers from each region.
Bacchus Marsh, who were grouped with multiple state finalist Cobden Technical School as well as Western Port Secondary College won their three group games to qualify for the semi-final with Bendigo Senior Secondary College (second).
In the other section, 2016 State Runner Up Sacred Heart Yarrawonga qualified for the semi final along with Southern Metro winner Glen Eira College. Balwyn High School & Maribyrnong College also won one game each but narrowly missed the next stage.
Bendigo Senior Secondary narrowly defeated Glen Eira 11-9 in the Semi Final, and in a rematch of 2016’s final Bacchus Marsh defeated Sacred Heart Yarrawonga 15-7 in the other semi.
The final saw Bendigo Senior Secondary take a 5-0 lead in the first two ends over Bacchus Marsh. However, Bacchus Marsh edged in front after the 5th end and held on to win back to back championships 11-7.
Secondary Results can be found here on the SSV website.
Congratulations to all 120 participants who were involved in the State Final. A special thank you to School Sport Victoria for their ongoing support of School Bowls as well as each club who worked with a school throughout our division, region & state stages of school competition.
If your club is interested in working with schools, or interested in hosting any of our championships next year, please give Sean a call on 98617109 or e-mail seano@bowlsvic.org.au