2026 City vs Country Wrap
Day One
The annual City vs Country State pathway event commenced Saturday at South Bendigo Bowls Club under cloudy but promising skies, and on greens in peak condition. With Country Women shading City 3-2 and City Men reversing the standings against Country 3-2 there was plenty on the line for both Sides.
City Debutants
Marlie Malcolm #37
Addy Ryan #38
Harry Coleman #47
Ben Cotter #48
Koby Cromie* #49
Matt Lawrence* #50
Kris Paine #51
Country Debutants
Jo Martin #33
Leah McArthur #34
Hayley Murnane #35
Alannah Taylor #36
Kevin Anderson #49
Brock Keenan #50
Nick Rowley #51
Cameron Wilson #52
Hunter Wingfield #53
Game One
In what can only be described as dominant first up wins, Country Women and City Men both scored 92 shots to record comfortable wins. The margin in Game One for the Women was 17, 92-75, and the Men 32, 92-60.
The Women’s match saw the rink wins split two-apiece. City recorded one and four shot victories in two rinks, but the difference was the combined 22 shot victory and across the two Country rink wins. Peta Mattys skipped the standout Country, 34-16.
Unlike the Women, the Country Men came within one shot in two rinks but couldn’t record a rink win. The margins across the other two was a cumulative 30 shot difference in favour of City Men. Brett ‘Pidge’ Mahoney skipped the highest scoriing rink, 31-10.
Game Two
Country Women secured the title on day one with a 30-shot victory from three rink wins and a draw in the second game. Peta Mattys and Lisa Phillips battled out a 16-16 draw with some high-quality draw bowling. The Emma Simmonds-skipped rink enjoyed the rink high 32-10.
In a significant turnaround, Country Men reversed their morning fortunes winning by 46 shots with a lean sweep across all four rinks. Kevin Anderson skipped his rink to a 36-17 victory.
Day Two
Game Three
Sunday started in wet conditions, with rain falling overnight and into the early morning. The South Bendigo greens were damp but drained extremely well, providing Sides with an opportunity to maintain the high standard of bowls that was witnessed on Saturday.
With the Women’s Series already decided, pride was on the line in Game Three for the City Womens, but Country weren’t going to allow City an easy win. Maintaining their Saturday form, Country managed a clean sweep across all four rinks. The Peta Mattys’ skipped rink once again posting a big rink win of 32-14, while the remaining rinks had just one, two, and three shot margins.
At one-apiece the Men’s Series was very much a live contest, and a game in three parts: City started well, Country was very good through the middle, and City staged a late run, including winning two rinks, one by a margin of 15 shots. But it was the Country Men who held off the charge by two shots helped along by Cam Keenan’s rink win, 33-19.
Thanks to South Bendigo Bowls Club, Jamie, Ben, Ron, and all the volunteers who made the weekend such a success. Thanks also to the respective Selection Committees, and Chris Philpot and Susan Howes from the Senior Committees who attended to assist. And last, but by no means least, thanks to Daryl Rowley who afforded us his Commonwealth Games-standard umpiring to officiate over the weekend.
Congratulations to the Country Women, extending their Series victories 4-2 and the Country Men drawing level 3-3.
* Players have previously received a Country Cap.
