Victoria – State of Pennant 2
A roundup of some of the most interesting stories from Pennant finals around the State. Our thanks to those who took the time to submit information and pictures.
Sometimes, you’ve just got to hang in there.
For Central Wendouree’s Midweek Division 1 team, persistence paid off as they won the Ballarat District Bowls Division grand final.
Central Wendouree beat last year’s premiers City Oval, after City Oval had won their previous three meetings against them.
Central Wendouree were behind 16 shots at the lunch break but came out determined to do better. It all paid off, at the end of play they were victorious by six shots.
Being runners-up the past two years made the victory all the more pleasing.
Tawonga BC has not only celebrated a third successive flag in its section. It has a novel way of selecting its team.
The North East Victorian club recently celebrated its third consecutive win in C Section of the Ovens & Murray Pennant competition.
The club only entered into Pennant five years ago and in this time has won its section on four occasions.
This year’s victory was achieved in a very tight contest against Kiewa BC by just two shots. The match was played in heatwave conditions at Wodonga BC and was halted on two occasions by the match official as the temperature had exceeded 40 degrees Celsius.
The successfu team was: George Eldridge, Dave Bergman, Gary Woods (s), Gordy Hobbs, June Hoffman, Carol Philp, Jill Woods and Dave McDonough (s).
Tawonga has one of the smallest memberships in Victoria and also has what is thought to be a somewhat unique method of selection for its Pennant team.
This is made in the weeks leading up to the commencement of the Pennant season, before a Pennant bowl has been bowled!
The skips and thirds positions show little change for the season but other members are named in the sides for the 14 round competition, thus giving all members who wish to play Pennant, not only a game but also a chance to represent their club.
“Hard as it will be for some to believe this – the method has been in use for the past five seasons and there has never been one cross word or complaint,” Tawonga vice-president George Eldridge told www.bowlsvic.org.au
There’s plenty to celebrate at Benalla Bowls Club, as their top-flight side won the flag in the Ovens & Murray Weekend Pennant competition.
Rivals Wodonga had won the past seven premierships.
The final went down to the last end with Benalla leading by three shots. Wodonga needed three to draw and make it another end playoff, and four to win.
But they could only manage two shots, giving Benalla the victory by one shot. It’s Benalla’s first premiership in 17 years, and it was against the same club and by the same score – a one shot win.
In Midweek Pennant, Benalla played YMGCR, and again it came down to the last two bowls.
Benalla on the score board up by two shots, at the head down by three. Then Tiny Williams put in a fantastic bowl one down in the head, one up overall. YMGCR’s skipper played a great bowl, umpire called to measure, one shot to YMGCR, and Benalla win by one shot
Benalla Open One side premiers – their first ever premiership.
One of the most impressive – and popular – Pennant victories anywhere in Australia came from Victoria’s newest bowls club, Bungaree, in the Ballarat District Bowls Division.
Bungaree won their Saturday Division 7 grand final against Smeaton in Daylesford by 27 shots.
“We were only formed two years ago and most of our bowlers were only in their second year of bowls,” Bungaree BC’s Jayson Frawley tells Bowls Victoria.
“Our new green is under construction and will be ready for next season having played at Ballarat BC in our first two seasons of pennant.”
Five out of six sides in finals. Three flag wins. A huge result for Rye Bowls Club.
Rye has had another very successful Pennant season with five out of six sides making the finals series of Saturday Pennant and the sixth just missing out.
The Fours and the Fives unfortunately went down in the Semi and Elimination Finals leaving the Ones, Twos & Threes to bring home the bacon in the Grand Final events.
So on March 12, the third division triumphed over West Rosebud with a margin of 10 shots, at Rosebud Country Club Bowls Club and the second Division were much too good for Village Glen Bowls Club played at West Rosebud with a margin of 34 shots. Much celebrating went into the night and talk of doing it all again next year.
Then the first division played their Grand Final on Sunday, March 13, at Rosebud Country Club, defeating Rosebud Bowls Club by 31 shots and have made it back to back following their historic win last year, which was the first in 56 years. More celebrating!
And don’t forget Tuesday Pennant, in which Rye fielded three sides this season. Of these, the first and second sides made the finals with the third side just missing out, in fifth position on the ladder. Unfortunately, these two great sides went down to Balnarring sides in the Preliminary and Semi Finals. Never mind, look out next year.
In this grand final, it was City Memorial Bowls Club Warrnambool versus…City Memorial Bowls Club Warrnambool.
The club had two Division 1 teams paying off against each other in their Tuesday Pennant Grand Final.
City Memorial Green ended the season on top of the ladder, with Gold in third place. After a tight game, Gold came out victors.
It was 33 years ago that City Memorial last had two Division 1 teams play off in a grand final.
In the Taylor Bowls Saturday Metropolitan Pennant Premier Division, Essendon secured their first top-level flag in their 130-year history.
Full story and video here
Midweek Metro Pennant’s Premier Division was won by Clayton, who saw off Lalor in the final.
And in Division 1, Sunbury beat Edithvale to secure both a flag and promotion.
Full story and video here
More Pennant stories: Victoria – State of Pennant
