Murray Bridge are favourites as Lower Murray bowls season begins
Murray Bridge will look to defend their crown in 2025-26, while Karoonda and Mannum will contend with lineup changes, writes Derek Vanderzon in this preview.
This story was contributed by Derek Vanderzon.
Lower Murray Bowls will kick off this Saturday with RSL hosting Murray Bridge, Tailem Bend at home to Karoonda and Mannum travelling to Jervois.
Reigning champions Murray Bridge are again expected to be pacesetters, with prize recruit Andrew Stasinowsky sure to make a difference after several seasons at Millswood.
Aaron Jones has also transferred from Karoonda to further strengthen them.
Not much news has been coming from RSL, but they will certainly have their work cut out against Murray Bridge.
Tailem Bend are expected to field a similar side to last season, with the possible addition of former Mannum player Mike Pethick.
Their opponents, Karoonda, will look far different, with Josh Porker trying his luck in Adelaide, while Rohan and Gary Zadow have departed for Geranium, along with the loss of Aaron Jones.
They are big losses and what so recently promised to be a golden era for the club might be cut very short.
Mannum will need to replace Ainsley Roberts, who is taking a year off, and Tony Gill, who has returned to Murray Bridge; and will probably be missing Todd McDonnell through work commitments, which will test their depth.
Even so, as last season’s minor premiers, they should again be very competitive.
Jervois will look for improvement from Shane Fromm and the return to health of Shawn Hicks to build on last season, and also the home ground advantage of its newly re-laid green to secure the points.
Murray Bridge News will feature Lower Murray bowls reports by Derek Vanderzon throughout the 2025-26 season.
