Goulburn Valley Playing Area selects its men’s squad for Rowlands-Sutcliffe Trophy Challenge

By Liam Nash

Oct 21, 2024

Shepparton Golf’s Kris Ferguson has been named in the GVPA side set to meet MPA in the Rowlands-Sutcliffe Trophy Challenge. Photo by Megan Fisher

Ladies and gentlemen, interleague bowls are back in season.

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With spring well under way Goulburn Murray Bowls Region has rolled out its list of 24 men to suit up for the Goulburn Valley Playing Area against the rival Murray Playing Area.

GVPA will vie for glory and holding rights of the Rowlands-Sutcliffe Trophy, named after district legends Maurie Rowlands and Geoff Sutcliffe, at Shepparton Golf Bowls Club on November 10.

The chance for a four-peat also presents itself.

Last year, the GVPA beat out the MPA 54-419 to 24-373 at Numurkah Bowls Club across both female and male rounds to make it three consecutive titles since the challenge began in 2022.

While the women’s GVPA side is yet to be announced, men’s manager James McLeod believes the two dozen names chosen to represent the region in 2024 are more than capable enough to retain the silverware for another year.

“We are fairly confident,” McLeod said.

“I think we’ve picked the best sides that we can for the players that are available.

“Then the regional selectors will pick our region’s side to go to Ballarat in the middle of January.”

Before the Ballarat-hosted Bowls Victoria 2025 Region Sides Championships on January 10-12, the GMBR will have another country foe to face.

Following the Rowlands-Sutcliffe Trophy Challenge, men’s and women’s teams will be whittled down to 16 from the GVPA and MPA and selected to take on the Ovens and Murray at Wunghnu Bowls Club on December 1.