BOWLS

STRZELECKI NORTH

SATURDAY PENNANT

BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

 

BACK against the very best.

Moe will return to the top level of Strzelecki North bowls after clinching the Division 2 weekend premiership over Boolarra.

Following Friday’s rampant weather, the Grand Final was moved from the sun-baked greens of Newborough Bowling Club to the undercover facilities at Morwell Bowling Club.

With everything at stake, either reaching peak competition over their local area or forced to push aside the season and reset for another year, the grand final went down to the wire, with Moe narrowly passing Boolarra, 81-77.

While Boolarra was seeking a fairy tale surge to weekend Division 1 for the first time in the club’s history, Moe had motivation of its own.

After being relegated from Division 1 to begin the 2024/25 season, the Lions finished on top of the ladder, only to succumb to Morwell Club in the big dance last year.

As such, the final result at the weekend felt right, despite Boolarra riding a wave of belief and holding significant leads in two games halfway through the day’s play.

Moe was sitting just above in the other two games, but meant that all players needed to lift if they were to see out their goals of promotion.

Boolarra’s belief would have gone even higher after seeing them secure the Division 7 premiership over Drouin during the course of play at Morwell.

Each side was vocal throughout the course of the afternoon, and into the final hour, the typical encouraging lingos ran across the green as it became evident the premiership would come down to the wire.

Local football and netball supporters probably felt like they were getting flashed forward to next month, as onlookers began to shout out “come on Moe” to give their players a little more backing.

However, the Drouin supporters watching the Division 7 Grand Final were the most noisy, regularly applauding after every winning end.

Boolarra was the first to secure victory, with Joel Anderson and his rink of Graeme Colbert, Joelene Laukens and Glenn Slater defeating Steve Pallot and his rink of Jeff Thompson, Flynn Pallot and Janine Williams, 22-11.

Despite that significant result, Moe had the largest win through Alexander Caines and his rink of Chris Goldsbrough, Lachlan Sim and Billy Nisbit defeating Chris Ward and his rink of Darren Naper, Jorma Takanen and Mark Whiley, 27-11.

With Moe finishing the penultimate game on top through Jayde Leach and his rink of Barry Hawkett, Michael Smogavec and John Williams defeating David Stevens and his rink of Janet Napier, Terry Parker and Bruce Davy, the Lions held an overall one-shot lead with a game yet to finish.

Despite ultimately winning, the pressure was still on Steven Davy and his rink of David Caldwell, Jack Cleaver and Stan Williams to etch a few more shots to see Boolarra through to Division 1.

All players and supporters gathered at the far end of the green as the final end commenced, only for John Westerlo and his rink of David Wurlo, Stuart Caines and Darren Kane to finish the job, even with a 25-21 loss.

It didn’t matter, as securing three shots on the last end saw Moe celebrate a grand overall win, as the Lions banner immediately entered the green as the team embraced.

It was the first time Morwell had hosted a bowls grand final since the disastrous fires of 2024, which has now forced the club to rebuild. The club has established a pop-up bistro over the second greens to continue business.

Morwell previously hosted many grand finals and are preparing for the Victoria Open – the second-largest premier bowls event in Australia, from March 20 to March 29.