Sport
23 October, 2025
Good shots from the start
DONALD Bowls Club hosted St Arnaud Country Club on what was a perfect day the sun was shinning with a little breeze about for their North Central playing area matches.
DONALD Bowls Club hosted St Arnaud Country Club on what was a perfect day the sun was shinning with a little breeze about for their North Central playing area matches.
It was nice and warm as the game got started and it didn’t take long for the teams to find their rhythm.
Both first and second divisions players were putting down really good shots from the start.
The green was in perfect condition as always. The greenkeeper had got it running so good you could hear people praising how well it looked and rolled on the day.
Top marks for the greens keeper excellent job.
All the matches were so close and it came down to the final ends to determine who would win.
In Division One Donald won two out of three rinks and the Division Two Donald won again two out of three rinks.
There was a really good atmosphere around the ground.
St Arnaud Division One bowlers welcomed Donald Golf in last Saturday’s round two of North Central pennant bowls, and these two teams enjoyed the perfect conditions, engaging in a high class tough clash for the entire game.
Donald Golf started well, leading 16 shots to nine after five ends.
But St Arnaud fought back strongly over the next five ends scoring 20 shots to seven to take the lead 29-23.
It was St Arnaud by just two shots at the tea break, and only six shots up with five ends to go.
A strong finish by St Arnaud 16 shots to Donald Golf 9 shots secured the result for them.
The best performed Saints four were Terry McSwain, Allan Welsh, Maurie Wood and Tony Marland.
This team started badly, trailing Dan Pettifer’s four 0-8 after 4 ends, but came back really well to lead 13–9 after 10 ends.
Despite some very good bowling by the Donald team. Terry’s team outplayed them, winning the last six ends for an important win.
Steve Zsigmond, Glendon Hancock, Greg McNally and Tom Amos were leading Peter Hibberd 11-4 after 10 ends but the Donald four won the next five ends to lead 12-11. Steve’s team finished too strongly though, scoring on seven of the last 10 ends for a good win.
Ashley Dyke, Phil McRae, Col Marchment and Darren Shepherd were outplayed by Geof Rigby. The Donald four took the lead on the first end and maintained the ascendancy for the entire game, winning 14 of the 25 ends.
Overall St.Arnaud won 40 ends to Donald Golf 35 ends.
In Division Two, St Arnaud won all three rinks gaining the possible 12 points by defeating Donald Golf by 24 shots.
Kerryn Dyke, Paul Micallef, John Prendergast and Brian Eccles scored heavily against G. Wood, two fours and three threes giving them control and a good victory.
Laurie Goodwin, Darren Petrie, Gerald McIntyre and Peter Duncan also scored two fours and three threes against L. Borden for a solid win.
Lloyd Goddard, Wayne Rourke, Craig Cheesman, and Jason Barron came from 4–10 down to forge back to lead by eight shots and hang on for a three-shot win over S. O’Shea.
St Arnaud will play the Country Club under lights at 6,15 pm on Friday night. This change has been arranged because of the St Arnaud races next day. Should be an entertaining contest and will attract spectators.
The threat of rain kept a number of bowlers away from the St Arnaud Bowling Club’s first Twilight Bowls evening last Thursday.
However, six teams managed to complete their 10 ends in windy but warm weather, just before the rain arrived.
Two teams with tied scores got a little bit damper playing a deciding last end.
All games were closely contested , Brian Eccles, Damian Yole and Keith McLennan the best performers, winning by four shots.
They are the first Twilighters this round, to win the Country Kitchen free pizzas.
Runners-Up, two shots up, were Tony Marland, Jason Barron and Melissa Hand.
The club welcomed first time twilighters Tania Scarce, Tony Hand and Melissa Hand .The next twilight bowls event is tomorrow at 6.30pm.
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