Sport
Allan Matheson Shield | Gallery | Tallygaroopna rings in new year with statement win over Kyabram
After more than four weeks on the sidelines division one weekend pennant action returned to the Goulburn Valley Playing Area on Saturday and it did not take long for the state of the competition to be turned on its head.
Before the Christmas break it seemed to be a two-horse race, with perennial contender Shepparton Golf and up-and-coming challenger Kyabram quickly pulling away to occupy the top rungs on the ladder.
But throughout the season Tallygaroopna has lurked ominously in third spot and on Saturday the reigning premier made its move with a crushing 16-98 to 2-73 win over Kyabram at its temporary Shepparton Park Bowls Club home.
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Concentration: Mooroopna’s Merv Knight. Photo by Megan FisherImage 2 of 7
So close: Shepparton Park’s Rob Thorne. Photo by Megan FisherImage 3 of 7
Sending one down: Mooroopna’s Daniel Considine. Photo by Megan FisherImage 4 of 7
In deep thought: Mooroopna’s Allan Donaldson. Photo by Megan FisherImage 5 of 7
In the zone: Shepparton Park’s Paul Warren. Photo by Megan FisherImage 6 of 7
Great technique: Mooroopna’s Locky Taylor. Photo by Megan FisherImage 7 of 7
Ready for action: Mooroopna’s Jeff Anselmi. Photo by Megan FisherClaiming victory in three of the four rinks the Tally squad was firing on all cylinders as it continues to round into top form ahead of the finals series.
The Redlegs’ sixth win of the season, and third on the trot, chairman of selectors Mark Ryan said the performance was his team’s best of the campaign.
“It was a real good effort that showed us just how good we can be when we are at our best,” Ryan said.
“Everyone contributed throughout the day, we had no passengers, and to only lose that one rink it’s a credit to the way we bowled as a group.
“Especially to come back after such a long break and be in that type of form it was great to see and hopefully something we can continue.”
While Tally had a number of match-winners across the green, it was the efforts of Dave Daws in rink four that really turned the match in his team’s favour.
Coming up against Kyabram young gun Connor Trewren, Daws commanded the green all day and with great support from the likes of Scott Adams, Brian Hogg and Guy Madigan inspired a dominant 28-15 triumph.
“Dave was red-hot all day,” Ryan said.
“He was set up nicely by his lead in Scott Adams, who played that position in that rink for the first time after we made a few little changes which I think really helped.
“Overall I’m super happy with how the guys bowled in that rink and they will be super important for us on the run home.”
Now sitting level with Kyabram on six wins, the Redlegs are poised beautifully to make a late charge at the top two in the final six weeks of the season.
And with the squad now settled and playing at a high level, Ryan said he expected his team to keep getting better.
“We are slowly getting better and better and our confidence continues to grow as well,” he said.
“Adrian Pantling joined us from Wangaratta and has been an awesome inclusion, so I feel we’ve finally got the balance right and we will continue to get better as a result.”
Around the greens, Shepparton Park solidified itself in fourth spot with a professional 16-110 to 2-90 victory over cellar-dweller Mooroopna.
A closely contested match across the majority of the green, the difference came from rink four where Dennis Beck prevailed by a whopping 34-16.
Tatura-Hill Top showed its season is far from over, as it destroyed East Shepparton 16-114 to 2-76 to move up into sixth spot on the ladder.
While Shepparton Golf rounded out the weekend’s action with an eighth straight win, as it easily accounted for Stanhope 16-100 to 2-71.