BOCCE

By LIAM DURKIN

 

THEY’LL need to build a new stadium at this rate.

Either that or hire a masseur to treat some sore necks.

Italian Australian Club, Morwell once again returned home from an international bocce tournament with a swag of medals.

Diane Penney, Tina D’Urbano and Franco Fava travelled to Malaysia for the Asia Oceania Bocce Championship last month.

There, the trio made up half the Australian team, and brought back with them medals of each denomination.

Coached by Fava, Penney and D’Urbano highlighted proceedings by winning gold in the women’s doubles.

D’Urbano also won silver in mixed doubles, and Penney bronze in precision throw.

The results capped off another busy year for bocce, which saw local players travel across the world for tournaments in Turkiye, France and Puerto Rico.

“It’s been tough but great results,” D’Urbano said of 2024.

“To come home with the goods, it is a really proud moment for us all.”

Players had to quickly adapt to conditions in Asia, where surfaces literally resembled wet cement.

It seems it is not only cricket pitches that are treacherous in Asia.

Australia also won gold in the men’s doubles, and, thanks in no small part to the efforts of the Morwell contingent, have qualified for the World Raffa Championships.

On a broader scale, Bocce Australia officials are hoping to grow the sport even further this year.

“In 2025, we will be presenting a series of sessions designed to provide insights into where the sport needs to evolve to secure its place and future within the Australian sporting landscape,” Bocce Australia President, Frank Funari wrote in a memo sent to stakeholders just before Christmas.

For Morwell players, there is hardly any let up in readiness for the next major event, as well as those happening at club level.

Players are turning their attention to the Australian nationals this year, with one eye also turned to the next world championship in 2026.

Italy is rumoured to be hosting, and there will surely be no shortage of motivation for locals aiming to qualify to make sure they are on the plane over.

When asked if playing in Italy was like ‘the MCG of bocce’, Fava was barely able to contain his excitement.

“Rome is the best… oh my God, the set-up… unreal,” he said.