Sport
7 March, 2026
Demons create sweet revenge
WYCHEPROOF has swept the North Central bowls grand finals, with Division 1 winning a close contest with Donald Golf and Division 2 dominating the decider against Wedderburn.
WYCHEPROOF has swept the North Central bowls grand finals, with Division 1 winning a close contest with Donald Golf and Division 2 dominating the decider against Wedderburn.
Both of Wycheproof’s teams finished on top of the ladder, but the Division 1 side had to come through the preliminary final after being given a thumping by Donald Golf in the second semi-final.
They got their revenge on Wedderburn’s greens last Saturday, with a 70-64 shot win before a large crowd of spectators.
At the break there were only four shots separating the teams, with Wycheproof leading 42-48.
Donald Golf eventually won one of the rinks by 18 shots, but the other two rinks fell to defeats by 16 and eight shots respectively.
The Wycheproof rink of Phillip Allan, Paul Wellington, Paul Connolly and Eric Rayes (skip) won 33-17 against Luke Kelly, Tony Dionisopoulos, David Peake and Daniel Pettifer (skip), which proved to be the decisive result.
Donld Golf’s successful rink was George Geddes, Robert Adams, Robert Reseigh and Geoffrey Rigby (skip).
In Division 2, a tight contest at half-time blew out following afternoon tea, when Wedderburn fell away.
The score at the break was 48-39, with Wedderburn leading one rink and tied in another.
Despite playing at home, the final result saw Wedderburn defeated on all three rinks for a 23-shot loss, 80-57.
The Wycheproof rink of Paul Bagley, Alan Grylls, Rob Grylls and Peter Coles (skip) sneaked over the line by two shots against Helen Stephenson, Mario Guelfo, Geoff Burnside and skip Lance Standfield.
The rink of John Ritchie, Jeannie Grylls, George Coatsworth and Donald Denney (skip) coasted to a 14-shot win over Bernard Catherine, Neville White, Allan Noordennen and skip Colin Mills.
Steve Barratt’s Wyche team (Seth Wellington, Vince Grant and Brett Macdonald) won by seven shots over Wedderburn’s Robert Ashley, Tony Benaim, Ruth Hall and John Grant (skip) to complete the whitewash of the final.
Standfield told the NCN Herald that Wycheproof’s playing depth told on the day.
“There were only a few shots in it at the break, but they jumped a couple of our rinks after that and we couldn’t peg them back,” he said.
“They are a very good side, and there’s no disgrace in going down to them.”
RESULTS
Division 1 - Donald Golf 64-2 lost to Wycheproof 70-10. Luke Kelly, Antonios (Tony) Dionisopoulos, David Peake, Paul Connolly (s) lost to Phillip Allan, Paul Wellington, Daniel Pettifer, Eric Rayes (s) 17–33; William Livingston, Belinda Murray, Stewart Hollis, Peter Hibberd (s) lost to Matthew Nicholls, Aaron Mead, Nicolas (Nick) Coles, Jonathon Grylls (s) 17–25; George Geddes, Robert Adams, Robert Reseigh, Geoffrey Rigby (s) d Dale Groves, Alan Jones, Allan Coatsworth, Jason McKay (s) 30–12
Division 2 - Wycheproof 80-12 d Wedderburn 57-0. Seth Wellington, Vince Grant, Brett Macdonald, Steve Barratt (s) d Robert Ashley, Anthony (Tony) Benaim, Ruth Hall, John Grant (s) 25–18; John Ritchie, Helen (Jeannie) Grylls, George Coatsworth, Donald Denney (s) d Bernard Catherine, Neville White, Allan Noordennen, Colin Mills (s) 32–18; Paul Bagley, Alan (Frank) Grylls, Robert (Rob) Grylls, Peter Coles (s) d Helen Stephenson, Mario Guelfo, Geoff Burnside, Lance Standfield (s) 23–21
Regional competition
BOWLERS from all over the Wimmera will converge on Wedderburn on the long weekend for the regional state finals.
The best players in the area will compete in 11 events, with 68 bowlers taking part on Saturday alone. Teams from North Central, Bowls Wimmera, Grampians and North Wimmera playing areas will contest the titles.
Friday will see the Ladies Triples event, while Saturday’s packed schedule will see the Men’s and Ladies’ fours, the Ladies’ novice event and the men’s triples. The heats and final of the prestigious Ladies’ Champion of Champions will be played on Sunday along with the Men’s and Ladies’ pairs and the Men’s novice events.
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