Allan Matheson Shield | Gallery | Epic preliminary final comeback lifts Kyabram over Tallygaroopna

By Zac Standish

Mar 12, 2023

Comeback kings: On the back of experienced skip David Cartwright, Kyabram produced an epic comeback to win its way through to the Allan Matheson Shield grand final. Photo by Megan Fisher

We are grand final-bound.

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This is the phrase the entire Kyabram Bowls Club fraternity had been itching to to proclaim for the past 10 months, as it went about building and then perfecting one of the Goulburn Valley Playing Area’s most formidable division one weekend pennant units.

Throughout the season the Bombers had undergone their fair share of trials and tribulations, as they were firmly engaged in a three-way battle for the Allan Matheson Shield title with perennial contenders Shepparton Golf and Tallygaroopna.

Finishing the home and away season in second spot, a heartbreaking three-shot loss to Golf in last week’s qualifying final then set up a do-or-die preliminary final with the reigning premier Redlegs — where they would find out whether all of the effort they put into this campaign would be in vein.

And as the season’s penultimate match was reaching its climax it was very much looking like that would be the case, as the Bombers found themselves 16 shots adrift after 73 ends.

But this is where the Bombers truly showed what they were made of, as all four rinks banded together to pull off one of the greatest comebacks in Allan Matheson Shield history and record a 14-89 to 4-87 victory.

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In full flight: Tallygaroopna’s Mitch Sidebottom. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Zoned in: Kyabram's Mal Williams. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Giving it everything: Kyabram's Graeme King. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Seizing the moment: Tallygaroopna's Joey Lia. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Assessing the situation: Kyabram's Connor Trewren. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Loading up: Kyabram's Rob Anset. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Perfect form: Kyabram's Jacob Cartwright. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Cue the celebrations: Tallygaroopna's Rod Still and Terry Leigh-White. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Decision time: Kyabram's Charlie Boswood. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Ready to roll: Tallygaroopna's David Daws. Photo by Megan Fisher

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Taking a moment: Tallygaroopna's Brett Wright. Photo by Megan Fisher

Kyabram vice-president Glenn Fields recounted the tension on the green at Shepparton Golf as his team orchestrated its famous fightback.

“Everyone was very emotional at the end that’s for sure, especially after losing a close one to Golf a week before and having to get ourselves up for another crack this week,” Fields said.

“The atmosphere out on the green towards the end there was just unbelievable, honestly it’s hard to put it into words.

“Being one up with one end to go all the different scenarios go through your head, like will we be on the right side of the ledger, will it be a draw, or is it not meant to be, when it is out of your control watching on it is tough.

“We had our division four side there watching as well and the crowd was massive there at the end, so for it come off the way it did and be able to share that moment as a team it was very special.”

With two of the competition’s most evenly-matched teams going head-to-head, it was not surprising to see the rinks split at two apiece, as spectators were treated to top quality bowls across the green.

As a result the match was always going to be decided by a few pieces of individual brilliance and, for the Bombers, that came from the father-son duo of David and Joshua Cartwright in rink two.

Both part of Kyabram’s epic off-season recruiting drive, the pair proved its worth when it mattered most as young gun Josh helped set up wonderful opportunities for his father David to capitalise on as skip.

Ending up a 25-19 victor in rink two, Fields said it was the play of the Cartwrights that was vital in swinging the momentum back in the Bombers’ favour.

“Playing against a very good Tally rink, led by Mitch Sidebottom, it was always going to be tough, so for that rink to do what they did was huge for us,” he said.

“The father-son duo worked to perfection, obviously they have played a lot with each other over the journey, so to see them stand up in the big moment it was a real thrill and gave the rest of us a lot of belief.”

With the Cartwrights laying the platform, the rest of the Kyabram squad got on board in the dying moments, as it finished the match outscoring the Redlegs 26-9 across all four rinks in the last five ends.

“Across the board we all just got in a really good groove and kept winning ends,” Fields said.

“It just shows the power of continuing to fight, we showed a great deal of resolve to get back into the contest which is something everyone can be very proud of.

“Overall it was just a great team effort.”

While the day ended in disappointment with the fact it would not get to defend its title on grand final day, there were still a plethora of positives for Tallygaroopna to take out of the game.

Legendary skip Mark Ryan was at his clinical best and recorded a hard-fought 20-16 win over Fields in rink four, while mid-season recruit Adrian Pantling produced a memorable 26-24 triumph over Geoff Beattie in rink one.

But in the end, the 2022-23 preliminary final was a celebration of all good things Kyabram, as it now gears up for a showdown with Shepparton Golf in what it is set to be a blockbuster decider at Stanhope Bowls Club on Saturday.