Echuca punches finals ticket

By Matthew Kappos

Feb 11, 2025

The Campaspe Playing Area weekend bowls regular season has concluded, and four teams now have finals encounters to look forward to.

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Echuca prevailed in a must-win clash against Mathoura, securing the final spot in the post-season with a 14-64 to 2-43 victory.

Beryl Murray strides into her shot. Photo by Matthew Kappos

Echuca’s destiny was in its own hands, a draw or better guaranteeing it fourth spot while the reigning champion Mathoura had the opportunity to overtake Echuca with a win, and a more complex set of results could have seen Rochester advance.

Philip Thorn guided Echuca towards the win, skipping the biggest margin of the match, 27-11, alongside Kristy Gillingham (lead), John Dinsdale (second) and Stan Barker (third).

Skips Philip Thorn and Mick Humphreys matched up in round 14. Photo by Matthew Kappos

Ian Page also earned rink points for Echuca, prevailing 20-14 over a Dennis McHarry-skipped line-up.

Peter Pangrazio ensured Mathoura didn’t walk away empty-handed but his 18-17 victory was too narrow to overturn the deficit.

Lee Beattie assesses her next bowl. Photo by Matthew Kappos

Rochester needed a win at Rich River Bowls Club, as well as for Mathoura to defeat Echuca but score fewer rinks than Rochy if it hoped to progress to the final four.

However, the host had other ideas, the wooden-spooner ending its season on a high with a 14-57 to 2-51 win.

Eugene Xodo picked up the biggest win of the tie for Rich River, prevailing 24-15, while Tim Noar also skipped a successful rink, 20-18.

Tim Quinlan had success for Rochester, earning an 18-13 result, but it would be Rochy’s last won rink for the season as it ended the year in sixth.

James Ferrier and Steve Cunnington take a look at the state of the game. Photo by Matthew Kappos

Moama limped into the finals, suffering a 14-65 to 2-57 loss to contenders Stanhope.

Skip Ben Fletcher was on song, picking up a 10-shot win, 28-18, over opponent Geoffrey Beattie.

Timothy Hancock also earned a rink win for Stanhope, 19-18, while Robert Young clawed back two competition points for Moama with a 21-18 win.

Moama has only won one of its last five outings, dropping from top of the league into third position.

Peter Holzer was focussed for Mathoura. Photo by Matthew Kappos

Tongala also failed to build momentum towards the post-season, defeated by second-bottom side Deniliquin 12-70 to 4-58.

Shane Laing and his quartet proved the heroes for Deni, their 32-15 victory enough to outweigh losses in the other two rinks.

Glenn Fields (20-18) and Bradley Tinning (23-20) prevailed for Tonny in the remaining rinks.

Lindsay Franklin wills his shot on target. Photo by Matthew Kappos

Lower divisions

In division two, Rochester concluded its season with a win, picking up its fourth victory of the year, 14-73 to 2-54 over Rich River.

Moama dominated Stanhope 16-72 to 0-45, while Deni RSL got by Echuca 12-58 to 4-53, and Tongala was too strong for Deniliquin 16-61 to 0-48.

In division three, Lockington burst into the post-season with momentum, dominating Mathoura 16-74 to 0-43, and Deniliquin defeated Elmore 12-49 to 4-48.

Jerome Shaw bowls for Echuca. Photo by Matthew Kappos

Rochester fell to Echuca in its final action of the campaign, going down 0-37 to 16-73, while Moama Black beat Rich River 14-70 to 2-49, and Moama Green was too good for Deni RSL 16-72 to 0-46.

Lockington will feature in an elimination final in division four, finishing the regular season with a 12-64 to 4-56 win over Tongala.

Stanhope lost to Moama 2-55 to 14-60, and Rich River got the win over Ky Valley View 14-62 to 2-53.

Rochester ended its year in division five with a 12-45 to 2-37 victory over Elmore, while Lockington was on the wrong side of the ledger against Deniliquin, going down 0-22 to 14-55.

Moama defeated Stanhope 14-60 to 0-22, and Deni RSL took both rinks against Echuca 14-59 to 0-19.