BOCCE
By LIAM DURKIN
ANOTHER tournament, another swag of medals.
Morwell Bocce Club players have had a busy winter.
Local players scored outstanding results at the Bocce Australia All Inclusive Championships, before another successful running of the club’s time-honoured Latrobe City Classic took place.
Morwell proved its worth competing at the championships, against more than 180 athletes from across the country.
The tournament, held in Epping, was the largest national bocce championship ever conducted by Bocce Australia.
“(It) will be remembered as one of the most significant milestones in the history of Bocce Australia,” the organisation said.
From Morwell’s perspective, the championships were highlighted by six junior players making their debut on the big stage.
“Our juniors really made us proud,” Morwell bocce veteran Maria Maselli said.
“It’s probably one of the better junior teams that we’ve had for a while.
“They’re a little bit older which means they’re a little bit more mature, they are really enjoying the competitiveness.”
The championships saw a mixture of triples, doubles and singles events, as well as modern forms of bocce such as progressive throw, designed to test both precision and fitness.
In that format, players run from end-to-end after taking each shot at a target ball.
One young Morwell player connected 11 times during an exhaustive match.
Team Morwell returned with medals and best-and-fairest awards.
Maselli, Anna Prezioso, Linda Dukes and Mirella Alesi won gold in the triples event.
The thrilling decider came down to the last end when the score was five-all.
Alesi also won silver in the masters category, and was further honoured with the best-and-fairest.
Dynamic duo Tina D’Urbano and Diane Penney won silver in the Raffa doubles.
Maselli noted the “very high standard” at the championships, adding that further intrigue came from competing against new teams from Western Australia and Queensland.
ONTO the Latrobe City Classic, which was held in the first week of July at the Italian-Australian Club.
Now into its 24th year, the classic welcomed teams from across the state.
Azzurri Club (somewhat fittingly) continued its stronghold on the bocce scene, winning the local triples classic.
Morwell trio Claudio Placella, Anna Prezioso and Nicole Pepe came third, flying the Latrobe Valley flag.
Casa D’Abruzzo Club’s Andrew Pozzer was awarded best-and-fairest.
The Latrobe City Bocce Classic is a huge drawcard for the region.
Visiting players often remark at the quality of Morwell’s courts, generally regarded as among the best in the state.
Morwell hosted the national championships in 2022, and the club says it is open to hosting another championship event in the future.
Morwell Bocce Club President Joe Maselli was also recently honoured with an award from Bocce Australia, recognising his service to the sport.
