🏆 Sport

Sports reports: Karoonda wins first divison one bowls premiership

Plus reports from the lower divisions and Murray Bridge golf, rifle shooting and soccer.

Contributed

Mar 26, 2024 — 6 min read

This post includes contributions from Derek Vanderzon, Michael Potts and Daniel Irvine.

⚫️ Karoonda wins first divison one bowls premiership
⛳️ Jeff Smith has plenty to crow about
🔫 South wind blows strong at rifle shoot
⚽️ United go down to Southern Breakers in cup comp

Karoonda’s bowlers gather around the scoreboard after defeating Murray Bridge in the LMBA grand final. Photo: Karoonda District Bowls Club/Facebook.

Karoonda wins first divison one bowls premiership

A good sized crowd has witnessed Karoonda finally breaking through for their first ever division one pennant at Mannum on Saturday, overcoming Murray Bridge 55-49 with wins on two rinks.

Although the final margin was only six shots, Karoonda were in control for the majority of the contest, with Murray Bridge shaving seven shots off the deficit on the final end across the three rinks.

Ian Symonds, Garry Mason, Malcolm McKenzie and Malcolm Waechter were pitted against Brian Traeger, Darren McIntosh, Mike Ferris and Andrew Meddle, and proved to be the defining factor with a comprehensive 20-11 win.

Rowan Zadow, Rohan Tomkinson, Gary Zadow and John Wegner had an intriguing tussle with David Kempe, Ben Traeger, Paul Smart and Tony Gill, eventually triumphing by a single shot, 19-18, with Tomkinson excelling for the victors.

Josh Porker, Shaun Wood, Erin O’Malley and Don Loller held sway for most of their match against Bruce Attrill, Peter Shilton, Charlie DiSanto and Brian Leckie, but were eventually overrun by their counterparts, who finished strongly to win 20-16.

Playing in their first ever grand final, Karoonda were keen to get off to a good start against their seasoned rivals, who were playing in their third successive decider and were loaded with a wealth of finals experience.

Zadow’s rink gave them just that, racing out to a 10-1 lead against Kempe after seven ends, although the margin was reduced to just three at the break with Kempe adding threes on the eights and 11th ends.

By that time Porker was just starting to break the shackles, adding three, four and two going into the break to lead 13-7.

Symonds, while not adding big numbers, won eight of the first 11 ends to lead 11-3 with “Wacky” Waechter and Mason dominating proceedings.

Karoonda held a commanding overall lead 36-18 at the break.

Kempe continued his resurgence after the break, and with six successive ends under his belt had taken a three-shot lead over Zadow after 16 ends.

Attrill was not giving in, and a five on the 16th end suddenly had him only one shot adrift of Porker.

Symonds’ rink extended his lead by two to 10 shots, but Murray Bridge trimmed the overall deficit to eight shots with five ends remaining on each rink, and one could sense some nervousness amongst the mainly pro-Karoonda crowd.

Karoonda needed a steadier, and Tomkinson and Mason stepped up with some big moments.

When Zadow added a four on the 18th to retake the lead from Kempe, and Symonds scored two on the corresponding end, the pennant was firmly in Karoonda’s grasp.

Attrill won the final four ends to overtake Porker by four shots, and Kempe and Traeger each added a three on the final end to reduce the margin to six, but there was no doubt as to which was the better side on the day.

It was a momentous occasion for Karoonda, achieving their first division one pennant since their inception in 1959, and only their second Saturday pennant in any division, following a division two pennant dating back before finals were introduced.

Seven of the 12 also played in last Wednesday’s victory in their midweek pennant win over the Jervois Plovers, giving them back-to-back titles in that competition.

The future looks good for Karoonda, with Josh Porker, Rohan Tomkinson, Rowan Zadow, Shaun Wood and Erin O’Malley all youthful in bowls terms, and they can be expected to be a dominant force for years to come.

Stalwart Barry “Bill” Cornish, unfortunately sidelined by a knee replacement in the latter part of the season, will also be keen to resume and taste success.

Murray Bridge were successful in both divisions two and three, defeating Jervois Red and Meningie Gold, respectively.

Murray Bridge’s victorious division two team celebrates. Photo: Murray Bridge Lawn Bowling Club/Facebook.

In division two Murray Bridge held off a Jervois challenge to win 56- 49.

Jervois drew level at 40-all after trailing for most of the match, but could not get their noses in front.

Gerry Penta, Les Trewren, Bob Johnston and Haydn Hein were five-shot winners over Denis Hicks, Len Gommers, Russell Schutz and Stuart McCulloch.

Ted Baxter, Malcolm Carter, Mark Callery and David Ratsch also won by five shots over Owen Allen, Rod Harris, Steve McKeown and Bruce Smith.

Jervois’ Heather Fromm, John McEntee, Jock Hart and Ash Hunt endured a tight finish with a three-shot win over Helen Lindner, Judy Zadow, Rodney Grigg and John Bubner.

Murray Bridge has tasted victory in the division three grand final. Photo: Murray Bridge Lawn Bowling Club/Facebook.

Murray Bridge had an easier than expected win over Meningie Gold, 43-30, in division three.

Leo Liebelt, John Pohl, Neville Gotch and Jim Hayes were 20-11 winners over John Cameron, Ruth Miller, Sydney Grieg and David Kittel.

Kurt Weinmann, Sue Smart, Helen Redden and Pamela Waack won 23-19 over Greg Miller, Roger Marsh, Don Magnusen and Peter Gibbs.

Jeff Smith celebrates his victory at Murray Bridge Golf Club on Saturday. Photo: Michael Potts.

Jeff Smith has plenty to crow about

One of the more entertaining Murray Bridge Golf Club members, Jeff Smith, has had a day his playing partners had dreaded.

He won Saturday’s competition with a massive 42 Stableford points.

Not usually short of a word or of free advice for others, Smith gave no-one else a chance in finding his best form and taking advantage of his current generous 29 handicap.

Admitting he had had plenty of luck along the way, his 21-point back nine was also good enough to win him the day’s coveted pro comp to give him a really successful day out.

In other news, richly talented A-grader Aaron Zrim appears as though he is warming up for another tilt at the club championships, held in May this year, by taking out his division with a brilliant 39 points.

Ever consistent Dr Tom Haig had everyone’s measure in B grade with his 37 points being enough, while visiting golfer Sam Smith had a big win in the C grade.

With the course recovering beautifully from some recent watering issues, there will be a chance for all golfers to enjoy a couple of Stableford comps over the upcoming Easter long weekend.

Scores: murraybridgegolfclub.com.au/competition-results-reports.

Wind flutters the flags at Monarto’s rifle shooting range. Photo: Daniel Irvine.

South wind blows strong at rifle shoot

Challenging conditions have set the tone on Saturday as a strong wind, gusting from the south, blew across the Deed Rifle Range while shooters from Murray Bridge Rifle Club competed from 1000 yards.

A testament to the challenge was the fact that no shooter avoided shooting a dreaded “magpie three” across the two rounds, and more than a few ones and twos were also shot.

However, the reluctant top “bird” winners on the day were Daniel Irvine and Frank Marshall, with four each.

With scoring low, it was a tight contest in F-open, the strongest field on the day, as Ian Elston managed to claim the off-rifle victory by a single centre from Adrian Conlon, 102.04 to 102.03.