Shepparton Park to take on reigning champ in top-of-the-table clash

It is the headline act this weekend with the second-ranked Parkers taking on the unbeaten Golf.

Park scraped through last round to pencil in a six-shot win over Mooroopna, while the Golfers continued on their winnings way with a comfortable win over Tatura-Hill Top.

Golf’s smallest winning margin this season has been a 10-shot triumph over Kyabram, while Tallygaroopna got within 11 shots in round five.

The Bombers knocked off Tally last weekend which gave Park the opportunity to leapfrog both outfits into second spot following its narrow win over Mooroopna.

“We’re going along pretty good. We’re winning the games that we are expected to win, but we’ve got some tough ones coming up with Golf, Ky and Tally,” Becroft said.

“They’re gonna be a big test for us, but we’re looking forward to the test.

“We know it will be a tough game, that’s in their right to make it tough for us, they’ll try their hardest and hopefully we can do our best to match them.

“If you wanna be the best, you’ve got to beat the best and that’s what we will try to do.”

Becroft revealed Park had opted for some personnel changes ahead of the meeting against Golf.

“We’re happy with how things are going,” he said.

“The club’s going well; it’s been a successful last couple of weeks for all grades.

“We’ve changed the team around (in division one). Next Saturday’s team will be different again from last week. We’ve made a few changes.

“Golf are the standard in the comp and it’s a good opportunity for those coming in to test themselves against the best. It is a big difference between division one and division two.

“We’ve got a new division one skipper in Kelvin Rogash and Glenn Edwards will be his third. They’ve both been playing well in division two and they get a chance in division one and hopefully they learn a thing or two.”

While Rogash and Edwards have been performing well in division two, Park’s Jeff Boyle and Paul Nichols have been in superb form for the top-flight outfit.

Nichols’ rink has only lost once for the season and has a shot differential of 38, while Boyle’s rink has four wins and two losses.

“Our best rink has been Jeff Boyle’s. It’s only his second year skipping in division one and he’s been bowling well,” Becroft said.

“There’s been a few changes in his rink this year, but they’re doing well and they were easily our best rink last week. Paul Nichols is a class act and we know what we’ll get from him.

“But it’s a team game .... everyone needs to chip in.”

There is a threat of rain for Saturday.

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicating 3-20mm of rain for Shepparton on Saturday and that could wash out the game before it even begins.

“There’s forecast for a bit of rain, we’re lucky it’s at Golf as it’s built on sand and doesn’t flood as much unlike at Park,” Becroft said.

“Hopefully we can get out there.”

Meanwhile, Goulburn Murray Bowls Region announced its women’s and men’s squads for the upcoming Ovens and Murray Challenge.

The games will be played at Yarrawonga-Mulwala on Sunday, December 3.

Rushworth’s Jean Sprague, Shepparton Park’s Kerri Leask, Numurkah Golf’s Loris Houlihan and clubmate Lidija Patching have been selected as skips of the women’s outfit.

Jamie Stokes, Kris Wright, Jenny O’Connor, Cath Dudley, Judy Harvie, Leigh Hansen, Carla Miles, Nan Smith, Bree Warren, Kate Bush, Kerry Baldacchino and Faye Hateley complete the 16-player squad.

In the men’s side, Shepparton Golf’s Brad Orr, Kyabram’s David Cartwright, Tallygaroopna’s David Daws and Golf’s Brett Gunning have been selected as skips.

Josh Cartwright, Ray Parks, Kris Ferguson, John Stokes, Paul Glanvill, Guy Madigan, Chris Philpot, Dane Gade, Brent Reiner, Josh Warren, Scott Adams and Nick Boyd round out the remainder of the squad.