With winter quickly coming to a close and the spring sun soon to shine on the Goulburn Valley, that can only mean one thing — a new bowls season is almost upon us.
Last week, Goulburn Valley Playing Area released its fixtures for 2022-23, with a staggered start headlining what is a new-look opening to the season.
The first bowl will be rolled on Tuesday, September 27, two days after the Goulburn Valley League grand final, as midweek pennant divisions two, three and four get under way.
The first weekend pennant matches will then take place the following Saturday, October 1, with division five the only weekend competition beginning on that day.
A fortnight later, on October 15, the remaining six weekend pennant divisions will begin their seasons.
On the midweek side of things, the division one Edna Harling Shield and division five competitions will kick off on Tuesday, October 11.
With the staggered start to the season, the association has delivered a message to its clubs in the official fixture release, stating that “it is hoped that clubs will attempt to maintain the integrity of the competition by NOT playing higher graded players during earlier rounds’’.
When it comes to the premier division one weekend pennant Allan Matheson Shield competition, a number of blockbuster games headline what is set to be one of the most evenly-contested seasons in recent memory.
No clash will be bigger than when Tallygaroopna and Shepparton Golf meet for a grand final rematch.
The first match between the reigning champions Redlegs and perennial contender Golf will take place in round seven (December 3) at Tallygaroopna, before they meet again in the final weekend of the home-and-away season on February 18.
Tallygaroopna and East Shepparton will meet in the only two currently locked-in Friday night matches of the division one season, with the first taking place on the Redlegs’ home green on November 11 and the second at East Shepparton on February 3.
In the division one midweek pennant Edna Harling Shield, Tatura-Hill Top will be looking to add a second title as an amalgamated club.
It will face Shepparton Golf in a tense grand final rematch at home in round seven (December 6), before travelling to Shepparton for a return bout in round 14 (February 14).
There will be two in-season breaks for all midweek and weekend pennant divisions during the season, with the return of the Victorian Open meaning there will be no matches between November 18 and 25.
The association will also enjoy a Christmas break from December 13 to January 10.
In other bowls news, a trio of Goulburn Valley locals will fly the flag for the region in the upcoming Victorian Bowls League.
Tatura-Hill Top young gun Olivia Cartwright and Rochester’s Cameron Keenan will ply their trade for Moama Steamers, while Shepparton Golf icon Brad Orr will be taking his talents east and playing for Gippsland Lyrebirds.
The Victorian Bowls League is an exciting new Bowls Victoria venture that pits the best from across the country against each other in an easy-to-understand, fast-paced five-a-side format.
Seven new franchises will take part in what is being dubbed as VBL1, representing regions from across the state.
The competition will officially launch at Moama Bowls Club on Friday, September 16, and runs until Sunday, September 18.