Sport

Stanhope fightback falls short in division one

By Matthew Kappos

Mar 9, 2026

Robert Ponton skipped Stanhope’s lone rink win in the grand final. Photos: Jordan Townrow. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

Echuca has emerged above the rest to claim the Campaspe Playing Area division one weekend pennant, holding off an in-form Stanhope in the grand final on Saturday.

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The minor premier didn’t have everything its own way in the decider, but eventually wrestled control over the match, the champion coming away a 71-51 winner at Moama Bowling Club.

Gregory Fitzpatrick hopes improve his side’s position Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

Echuca had the lead through most of the contest, the Philip Thorn- and Steve Cunnington-skipped rinks holding on to significant advantages.

The Ian Page-led Echuca outfit was also doing well in a closer contest in the remaining rink, the club overall leading by 18 shots down the stretch.

Jamie Stokes bowls for Stanhope. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

With Cunnington’s rink, against Gregory Fitzpatrick, wrapping up its 21 ends at 28-12 Echuca, Stanhope had one final surge in it as each of the other rinks turned the tide somewhat in the 17th end.

Timothy Hancock, the skip for Stanhope against Thorn, made an excellent defensive shot to turn what could have been a big deficit into just one shot for Echuca, while in Robert Ponton’s rink, against Page, his side logged a huge six shots, making big inroads into the deficit.

Ben Fletcher in grand final action. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

Stanhope still had plenty of work to do, down 13 shots with six ends to play, three each on the two rinks still in action.

However, it would be Echuca’s day, and while there wasn’t anything flashy down the stretch, the minor premier ticked over a couple of shots at a time to put things beyond the opposition’s reach at 71-51.

Timothy Hancock’s squad battled late but was unsuccessful. Photo by JORDAN TOWNROW

Ponton’s rink finished on top 24-22, while Hancock fell 15-21.

After topping the ladder, Echuca went straight through to the grand final after defeating Moama in the qualifying semi, while Stanhope, which could have mathematically missed finals on the last day of the regular season, finished fourth and took the long road through Kyabram and the Steamers to reach the decider.