Sports reports: Locals win at Murray Bridge family fun day
Plus the latest in golf, lawn bowls, greyhound racing and more.
This story includes contributions from Terry Hann, Derek Vanderzon, Michael Potts and Jack Taylor.
The Murray Bridge racing club has held a family fun day on Sunday, December 7.
Crowds soaked up the sunshine as kids played among the bouncy castle and animals in the petting zoo.
Four local trainers were able to take the win on the day, including:
- Lady Lupara ridden by Caitlyn Munro; trained by Gary and Dean Alexander
- Lucas the Younger ridden by Campbell Rawiller; trained by Jason Cannon
- Lucky Fortuna ridden by Caitlin Jones and trained by Heather Lehmann
- Immortal Shield ridden by Sairyn Fawke; trained by Grant Young
A Gawler trainer was the winner of the renowned Thomas Farms Cup, the horse Aztec Dancer, was ridden by Teagan Voorham.
Teenager stuns with outrageous round at Murray Bridge Golf Club
Saturday's stroke competition at Murray Bridge Golf Club certainly produced one of the more memorable results in recent times.
Eighteen-year-old member Mitchell Gale shot a remarkable nett 61 – an amazing nine shots better than his handicap on the par 70 Ritter Street circuit.
Playing off a 17 handicap, his front nine of 42 strokes was a very good start, but he was only just warming up.
He then put on the afterburners to return a stunning two-over-the-card back nine of only 36 shots.
His iron play and putting must have been white hot.
It was certainly a round to remember for Gale, who also won the day's lucrative pro comp for his unbeatable back nine.
Unfortunately, the talking point from all of this will be the new national handicapping system, which has slashed his handicap from 17 to a ridiculous four for his next round here.
Something is surely amiss with a system that penalises a player so much for one – albeit incredible – round.
It will surely lead to players not wanting to play comp golf if they're not then going to be competitive.
That's a story for another day though.
Spare a thought for A-grader Tony Carter, who shot a nett 68 to win his division.
He went on a birdie blitz on the back nine, racking up four of them on his way to a two-under 32 off the stick!
Just a pity he double bogeyed the 16th, otherwise he may have a had a card to really talk about.
While we're talking unlucky golfers, Patrick Evans must have wondered what more he could have done after scoring a nett 64 but then seeing Gale's score on the screen.
A C-grade win will have to do for him.
Red hot A-grader Barry Preston could be blindfolded on the par three 11th tee these days and still put his ball closest to the pin than anyone else.
He is racking up dollars galore on this hole lately, with another richly paying yabby going his way on the weekend.
Never short of a word, Preston would be happy to tell anyone who is interested all about it, too.
Time for some Stableford golf this Saturday.
Jervois storm home in the Lower Murray Bowls Association
An exciting finish at the RSL saw Jervois storm home on two rinks and just hang on the third rink to defeat RSL 71-60 and bank all 12 points.
Derek Vanderzon, Tim Hicks, Shane Fromm and Graham Fromm were engaged in a see-sawing battle with David Graham, Noel Kneebone, Anthony Wilkin and David Newell before coming out on top by six shots, courtesy of a superb final end which yielded six shots.
Graham started well in taking the first two ends, but the visitors looked to be getting on top when they led 9-4 after seven ends.
Graham then came to the fore and with a four and a three had taken a two shot lead by the break.
Vanderzon responded after the break to score the next six shots, but again Graham responded with two, one, two and two, to take a three shot lead with three ends to go.
The scores were tied going into the final end, but the Jervois rink engulfed the jack with their first six bowls, leaving an almost impossible task for their opponents, and claimed a 26-20 win.
Shawn Hicks, Heather Fromm, Bruce Smith and Neil Morris also began well, but even after winning six of the first ten ends found themselves in arrears by six shots after dropping a five and two three's while only adding singles themselves.
The margin was still six shots after 17 ends, but successive two's to Hicks put him within striking distance, and when he followed them up with a five he was suddenly in front by three going into the final end.
A single on the final end cemented the win.
Remarkably, Hick won double the number of ends despite the 22-18 scoreline.
Graeme Herbert, Jeremy Scannell, Graham Schenke and Stuart McCulloch looked like having a day out when they raced to a 13-0 lead over Jason Sipos, Matt Wynne, Michael Walker and Garry Daniel after just six ends, with four two's and a four to their name.
The margin was still 12 shots after 12 ends, but Sipos began gnawing away at the deficit and with six ends in a row was back within three shots.
Herbert steadied with a two, but Sipos took the final two ends with a pair of two's to almost pull off a remarkable win, falling short by just one shot, 22-23.
Murray Bridge continued their winning run with a 28 shot home win over Tailem Bend.
Darren McIntosh, Tony Trewren, Troy Penhall and Paul Smart wasted no time in asserting their dominance with a four and three in the first two ends, and with a six raced to a 15-3 lead over Travis Schenke, Rob Hales, Matt Kowald and Kevin McDonald.
Schenke reduced the deficit t0 six shots at the break, and again after 15 ends, but a five to McIntosh put an end to the comeback.
Shenke won six of the final eight ends, and 11 overall, but could not combat the heavy scoring and went down 27-20.
Bruce Attrill, Charlie DiSanto, Brian Leckie and Judy Zadow took a little time finding their feet before cruising to a 26-11 win over Duane Edwards, Merv Stevens, Con Jones and Chris Slattery.
A four and a five either side of the break propelled them into the lead and they cruised home from there, conceding just three singles in the second half.
Andrew Stasinowsky, Brian Traeger, John Pohl and Ben Traeger were largely untroubled in their 21-15 win over Sam Shepherd, Grantley Byrne, Steve Gordge and Stuart Rooke despite winning just ten ends.
An early seven shot lead was reduced to three shots several times during the contest, but the locals responded each time to maintain the lead.
A five on the 18th end killed off the contest, despite Shepherd winning more ends overall.
Murray Bridge bowler shines at ADF national championships
Last month, Murray Bridge-based Army reservist and night owls bowler Joe Di Santo represented South Australia at the Australian Defence Force Lawn Bowls (ADFLB) National Championships, held in Adelaide.
A member of the Murray Bridge Bowling Club, Di Santo balances his Army Reserve commitments with family and work, which means he is unable to play permanently.
However, he remains active in night owls, club events and tournaments across the state.
This year marked a special milestone for Di Santo, as he gained selection in the Army Squad for the first time, after spending the past few years as a reserve.
While both the South Australian and Army teams experienced mixed results, Di Santo enjoyed an outstanding individual tournament receiving the Army encouragement award— his second in four years.
He was also awarded best lead in the state versus state competition by the national selectors.
These selectors are responsible for choosing the tri-service teams (Navy, Army, and Air Force) and the Australian Defence Force representative team.
Looking ahead, the ADF Lawn Bowls organisation is issuing a “call to arms” for Defence bowlers (both permanent and active reservists) to boost participation for the 2026 National Championships to be again held in Adelaide.
The ADFLB also aims to raise its profile within defence and the broader community, encouraging serving members to give lawn bowls a try.
The championships welcome bowlers of all skill levels — from beginners to Australian representatives.
The event spans four days, featuring state-based competition for the first two and a-half-days, followed by inter-service matches between the Army, Navy, and Air Force over the final day-and-a-half.
Price is right at Murray Bridge dog track
Sunday turned out to be a fair sort of day for Compton greyhound trainer Tracie Price and his son Ben when, between them, they provided five winners at Mount Gambier and later a further four at the Murray Bridge meeting.
At Murray Bridge on Sunday night, Price was chasing consecutive Murray Bridge Country Summer Oaks wins over 455 metres after Minnie’s My Mum had been successful last year.
And it was Compton Gypsy, a daughter of Bernardo and Rhonda Lily, who settled early in a mid-race position after jumping from box three.
- Read more: greyhoundracingsa.com.au.
Mannum take top spot in Murray Towns cricket
Mannum 3/124 defeated Mypolonga 9/123
- Mannum best: Nick Lindner 49, Josh Boylan 2/18
- Mypo best: Mitchell Walton 30*, Thomas Wurfel 1/24
Monarto 10/114 lost to Wanderers 3/116
- Monarto best: Harry Miles 47*, Ty Pfeiffer 1/26
- Wanderers best: Benjamin Trenorden 44, Ben Gilgen 4/11
Jervois 10/119 lost to Ramblers 7/120
- Jervois best: Theo Rimmer 40, Luke Zadow 4/39
- Ramblers best: Patrick Bald 38*, Eli Woidt 4/14
Tailem Bend 10/144 lost to Meningie 5/146
- Tailem best: Lachlan Hincks 21*, Toby Hollis 3/21
- Meningie best: Stewart Williss 47*, Tyson Bradley 3/19
Sportsmen go two for two at tennis
Murray Bridge Lawn Tennis Association round eight
- Schools 7 defeated Swanport 5
- Sportsmen 7 defeated Postel 5
- Sportsman juniors 7 defeated Coorong juniors 4
- Banks juniors 8 defeated Avoca juniors 4
Email your sports reports to peri@murraybridge.news.
