After a 10-year drought and some heartbreakingly close calls in recent years, Port Welshpool and District Bowling Club have taken out the Strzelecki South Playing Area Division 4 Premiership against archrivals Wonthaggi at Loch on Saturday 1 February.
Victory in this competition was made even sweeter, with the Midweek Pennant team also taking home the flag against Mirboo North on 4 March, making for an unprecedented double for the Club.
In the weekend match, the Club were up against fancied opponents Wonthaggi, who were almost unrivalled all season, and who went into the Grand Final as huge favourites. Port Welshpool however, had nothing to lose but the decade long monkey on their backs.
John Roberts skipped his team of Sarah Gregory (3rd), Robin Street (2nd) and Ted Allott as lead, and the group got off to a shaky start. Before they knew it, they were 9 - 0 down.
Slowly but surely they pegged their opponents back, as Port Welshpool players put in great bowls at significant moments to finish just one shot down: 16 - 17.
Errol Gregory skipped with Matt Gallagher (3rd), Denise Richardson (2nd) with Andrew Stimson leading. Although the Port Welshpool lead was landing bowls on the jack from the first end, the much more experienced Wonthaggi second repeatedly took shot, resulting in a 1 - 8 score after six ends. On the 7th end, Port Welshpool won the mat and had no hesitation in choosing to play long ends. They scored on 10 of the remaining 15 ends but couldn’t get in front, going down by just five shots: 16 - 21.
Stephen Young’s team had Margaret McDonald (3rd), Stephen Green (2nd) and Trevor Vening leading. They started strong from the first end, only giving up five shots after 14 ends, with the score 17 - 5. Unfortunately, Margaret McDonald had to withdraw from the game feeling unwell and Belinda Crawford was substituted in. Stephen Young however, was putting on a masterclass of draw bowling, leaving his opposing skip with no answers. This rink was the last to finish with the overall score at 53 - 51 with one end to play. Stephen Green managed a bowl onto the back of the jack which stayed in place despite Wonthaggi’s efforts. The Wonthaggi skip had to displace it, and hope to at least Get two shots for an overall draw but failed with both attempts. Port Welshpool finished on 22 - 13. The final overall score 54 - 51.
On Tuesday, after a long season and a lot of kilometres travelled during the home and away rounds, Port Welshpool’s Midweek side took on Mirboo North at Korumburra in the Final. They knew the very experienced Mirboo North side were going to be a more difficult proposition on Korumburra’s green than the games they had played during the season.
With Belinda Crawford as Skip, Margaret McDonald 3rd, Trevor Vening 2nd and Matt Gallagher in Lead, Port Welshpool got off to a strong start, leading 7-0. However, their Mirboo North opponents came back throughout the middle of the game to take the lead on the 15th end. The opposition players were taking all their opportunities and the Port Welshpool team seemed full of nerves. After 17 ends Mirboo North was up 13-17.
The game looked like heading for a Mirboo North victory, but seemingly from nowhere, Port Welshpool rallied and drew level with two ends remaining. Perhaps it was the encouragement from the boisterous Port Welshpool cheer squad or seeing the other Port Welshpool team well in front that eased the pressure. Either way, they were back in the game.
Mirboo North took the 21st end to be up by one and had shot on the last end, until Margaret put down a magnificent bowl to pick up and sit on the kitty. The Mirboo North 3rd and Skip weren’t able to dislodge it, and Belinda drew a second to take an amazing win. 19-18.
John Roberts Skipped his team of Denise Richardson 3rd, Stephen Green 2nd and Angela Tisler Lead. They got off to a shaky start, trailing 2-8 after five ends, but shook off their nerves to take the next five ends and a 13-8 lead.
Mirboo North could only manage single shots over the next few ends. However, the Port Welshpool team stunned their opponents, landing some terrific long end bowls to score 10 shots in the next three ends to extend their lead to 23-11 after the 16 ends. Mirboo North outscored Port Welshpool in the remaining ends, however we won the game 24-17. The final overall score was 43-35.
This has been an unprecedented week for Port Welshpool and District Bowling Club, as never had both our Midweek and Weekend Pennant sides won Premierships in the same season.
