Sport

Gallery | Thrilling final round of GVPA midweek bowls

By Aydin Payne

Feb 22, 2022

The final round of the Edna Harling Shield season exceeded all expectations on Tuesday.

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East Shepparton came agonisingly close to securing a finals berth following its thrilling draw against Seymour at Seymour Bowls Club.

The Eagles, who needed a win to leap-frog fourth-placed Seymour, ultimately missed out on finals by four points following the captivating 9-73 to 7-73 contest.

Heart rates would have skyrocketed in the dying stages of the match, as East looked destined to snatch the match.

But an outstanding 37-15 rink win from Max Hammond, Jenny Ridd, Gail Krzciuk and Rob Baldwin ensured the home side got over the line.

East’s agony was Seymour’s bliss.

The home side finishes fourth from its 14 rounds in the Goulburn Valley Playing Area midweek division one season.

East Shepparton’s Stacey Collier (32-12) and Wayne Gribble (26-24) performed well for the visitors.

Let it rip: Shepparton Park’s Sandra Wallace. Photo by Aydin Payne

Elsewhere, Kyabram knocked off Tatura-Hill Top in stunning fashion.

Against the odds and punters, Kyabram defied the second-ranked outfit in a 14-67 to 2-54 triumph.

Rushworth knocked off Shepparton Park by 10 shots and Shepparton Golf clinched the minor premiership with a resounding 64-shot win over Mooroopna Golf.

In division two, the ladder ended in a log-jam with one club able to book a finals ticket in incredible fashion.

Down low: Shepparton Park’s Julie Bennett. Photo by Aydin Payne

Shepparton Park missed out on the post-season by less than one per cent and eight shots, with Shepparton Golf able to scrape through despite suffering a six-shot loss to Tatura-Hill Top.

The Parkers did everything in their power to snatch fourth from Golf and won all three rinks against Seymour.

Julie Bennett (25-14), Bev Thorn (21-16) and Jim Oliver (23-22) got the job done for Park.

Going solo: Seymour’s Bill Solomon. Photo by Aydin Payne

Elsewhere, Avenel pulled off one last major upset of the season with a remarkable 14-73 to 2-67 win over Euroa.

Geoff Hateley and David Furletti ensured Avenel ended its season on a high.

It was more of the same in division three, with Shepparton Park missing finals by the smallest of margins.

Go this way: Shepparton Park’s Leonie Freeman. Photo by Aydin Payne

Mooroopna won two rinks and the match by 12 shots over Shepparton Park to leapfrog the outfit into fourth spot.

Both sides finished on 112 points, with Mooroopna getting the nod by 0.65 per cent and five shots.

East Shepparton (1) got over the line by 10 shots to Nagambie, while East Shepparton (2) and Kyabram strolled home by 28 shots and 54 shots respectively.

In division four north, Numurkah blitzed Murchison (16-96 to 0-34), Kyabram defied East Shepparton (12-58 to 4-49) and Shepparton Park went down against Murchison (14-79 to 2-54).