Sport

The force is with Cobram Tiger Cub Luke

Feb 9, 2022

In action: Luke Dunn. Photo by JUDITH GADE

The Murray Playing Area men’s state fours began round one at Numurkah Golf and Bowls Club, on Sunday, February 6.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

The youngest team, Cobram’s ‘‘Tiger Cubs’’, included 10-year-old Luke Dunn as lead, with second Braidon Johnson, 22, third Andrew Giblin, 28, and skip Dane Gade, 28.

In his first season playing lawn bowls, Dunn has shown his club he can focus like his older teammates and already has a passion for the game and a commitment that is extraordinary for a young player.

Dunn’s father, Greg, who is also greenskeeper for Cobram Bowls Club says, “He just loves it. He gets out there, has fun and loses himself in it’’.

“One way to describe Luke is he is a sports nut,” Greg said.

“He can’t get enough.”

A natural sportsman, Luke also plays football and cricket.

An aspect of bowls that Dunn loves is playing with older players of all ages.

The respect is obvious and Dunn’s mentor, Gade, gives him the time to nurture him.

Gade was coach at Keysborough and Kyabram bowls clubs and is highly experienced in coaching young bowlers.

“I asked Luke if he wanted to play in the state men’s fours with Braidon, Andrew and myself, as I knew it would get him experience against some quality opposition,” Gade said.

The quality opposition, in the first round, included Murray region’s legendary bowler Geoff Sutcliffe, who represented Victoria approximately 340 times and Australia 38 times.

For Dunn’s first state qualifier he had one of Australia’s most successful bowlers.

“When I first played bowls, I wanted to be asked to play in these events, so I thought Luke would as well. It turns out he was very keen,” Gade said.

Being a young team, the players decided to give themselves a name that reflected their youth. The Cobram Tiger Cubs was born.

“I wanted Luke to have a chance to play with other young players. Unfortunately, we just missed progressing. One millimetre was disappointing as I wanted Luke to have this win,” Gade said.

The Cobram side was trailing 6-16, playing with resilience against the highly-experienced Numurkah Golf, fighting back to force a tiebreak at 18-18 after 18 ends.

Gade’s final draw shot was out by a skinny 1mm.

The final score was 19-18 in Numurkah Golf’s favour.

Although the Cobram Tiger Cubs barely lost this game, you can be sure they will be snapping at the heels of more experienced teams in future events and tournaments.

– Judith Gade