Allan Matheson Shield | Gallery | East Shepparton opens its account with tough win over Mooroopna

By Zac Standish

Nov 27, 2022

Engaged: East Shepparton’s Peter Dunning. Photos: Rechelle Zammit Photo by Rechelle Zammit

A sense of relief reverberated around East Shepparton Bowls Club on Saturday afternoon as the Eagles recorded their first win of the Allan Matheson Shield season against Mooroopna.

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Lifting itself off the bottom of the Goulburn Valley Playing Area division one weekend pennant ladder with the 14-93 to 4-81 triumph, East did not have everything its own way as the Cats managed to take two rinks in what was an entertaining contest.

But at the end of the day it was the experience of the Eagles that proved decisive, as they held their nerve in the key moments to get their 2022-23 campaign off and running.

Fine form: East Shepparton’s Lynn Barber. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Speaking after the victory East Shepparton weekend pennant manager Kevin Cox said the result served as a monkey off his side’s back after a tough first month of the season.

“Although we are relieved (to have won), we are also positive that we are on the right path and this result showed that,” Cox said.

“We went into the match confident we could do the job, we know we are in the bottom half of the ladder, but I feel just getting that win one will really give us some important belief moving forward.

“After a few tough losses to start the year this was a great reward for effort and hopefully can springboard us to some more wins in the coming weeks.”

In the zone: Mooroopna’s Thomas Downie. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Coming back from the Victorian Open break as the competition’s only two winless teams, it was clear that both sides had this clash circled as a golden opportunity to get off the mark.

For the Cats, who entered division one this season, the efforts of Maxwell McKee (24-22) and Bruce Anselmi (24-21) in rinks two and three had them in the hunt for that all-important maiden victory — with the rink triumphs sending a shock through the East camp.

But those nerves would quickly be eased by one of the Eagles’ most inexperienced players.

Taking the reins as skip in rink four Jack Spencer would set the East Shepparton Bowls Club alight in his second division one start, producing a performance for the ages to lift his squad to a telling 29-16 victory.

Watching it go: East Shepparton’s John Crozier. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Ultimately proving to be the difference between the two sides Cox was full of praise for Spencer’s efforts.

“That was only his second game, so for him to go out and do what he did was extraordinary,” he said.

“It was just an absolute pearler of a game, everything he did came off and in the end he really inspired the win for us.

“It’s great to see these younger guys stand up for us, every week I feel we’ve improved and you can feel the group is really starting to gel.”

Giving it everything: East Shepparton’s Gino Cervi. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Around the greens, Shepparton Golf made an emphatic statement in its top-of-the-table clash against Shepparton Park.

The Golf juggernaut was firing on all cylinders as it swept the rinks on its way to a crushing 18-126 to 0-75 triumph.

Coach Brett Foley was the star of the show for the Golfers, with his rink four unit producing a clinical 36-13 win, while John Gribble was also impressive in orchestrating a 28-16 victory in rink two.

The first loss of the season for Shepparton Park, this result serves as a swift reminder it is still a fair way off the pace of the competition’s top sides.

Tallygaroopna made it three straight victories with a hard-fought 14-102 to 4-87 win over Stanhope.

Let it roll: Mooroopna’s Scott Donaldson. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

Geoff Franze was the catalyst for the Redlegs with a 32-20 win in rink four creating enough of a margin to get his team home.

This came after the efforts of Gregory Fitzpatrick (30-26) and Ben Fletcher (21-17) in rinks two and three opened the door for a potential Stanhope upset.

Kyabram rounded out the winners’ list with a tight 14-103 to 4-94 triumph over Tatura-Hill Top.

Splitting the rinks two apiece Connor Trewren (35-21) and David Cartwright (29-17) led the way as the Bombers recorded their third victory of the season.