Shepparton can lay claim to the best men's tenpin side in the state.
It was a weekend of remarkable success in the bowling alleys of state competition as far as the Shepparton contingent is concerned.
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The Wyncity facility at Keon Park, situated in Melbourne’s northern corridor, set the stage for a frenetic two days of Victorian competition along the alleys, with Shepparton’s two tenpin sides serving up a smashing success.
The Goulburn Valley representatives marched down to the metro area to knock over seven other sides from across the state in a frenzied series, out to contest the Goldpin Emerson Shield.
In all, both sides were involved in 14 games across the weekend — eight on Saturday and a further six on Sunday — with some spectacular results once the dust settled.
The men’s group of eight, led by manager Kevin Wilkins, proved itself top of the pops after hundreds of gruelling frames in claiming first place, taking the shield and staking a claim as the state’s best bowlers in holding off Morwell and home side Keon Park.
Among that winning side were two contenders with top-notch weekend averages above 200 in the form of Stephen Michalaidis (215) and Luke Daniel (216) — the latter rewarded with a place in the five-man team of the tournament.
Meanwhile, the women’s running was similarly hotly contested, with Shepparton claiming third behind Epping and winner Bendigo.
Wilkins congratulated the whole cohort on its successes, noting the prestige of mixing it up with Melbourne’s best and beyond.
“It’s always an honour to bowl for your centre in these tournaments,” Wilkins said.
“They’re really difficult because you’re playing metro and country centres and you get better bowlers with the volume of people down there.
“It’s very humbling. Our guys were good from the start, they did everything they could and we came out on top.
“He’s actually pretty good, Lukey boy. He’s bowled a while and represented Shepp a few times and I think he’s won a state event.
“We had five state reps between the two teams, so there was a lot of knowledge and experience and coming third was exceptional for the women because they had a lot of first-timers and a couple of kids, so they excelled.”
He credits the squad’s overall professionalism as a catalyst for strength; cohesion over the glamour of superstars.
The Shepparton women gave a great account of themselves with a third-place finish.
“Some teams just turn up and bowl, whereas we like to dot the I’s and cross the T’s with things,” Wilkins said.
“You make your own luck in this game and the more professionally you do things, the more luck you get.
“I always say a champion team will beat a team of champions and we are a champion team — we’re all equal and we all do things the right way.
“The team is always cheering each other on, but you also have supporters at the back and we had a fair contingent supporting us.
“When you get on a roll, the adrenaline starts going and it brings out the best in you.”
