Sports reports: Murray Bridge are LMBA premiers for 2025

This story includes contributions from Derek Vanderzon, Cindy Hein, Michael Potts and Speedway Sedans Australia. Send your sports reports to liana@murraybridge.news.

Spectators have been treated to thrilling finishes in the Lower Murray Bowling Association’s division one and two grand finals, held at Murray Bridge on Saturday, with Murray Bridge emerging victorious against Mannum and Jervois, respectively.

In division three Jervois prevailed over Mannum.

In division one, Murray Bridge started strong after five ends on each of the rinks, leading 19-7 across the board. 

Brian Traeger, Ben Traeger, Helen Lindner and Andrew Meddle were showing no sign of nerves as they skipped out to an 8-0 lead over Terry McDonnell, Marty March, Tony Gill and Ron Van Tijn.

Darren McIntosh, Tony Trewren, Troy Penhall and Paul Smart had dropped their first two ends against David Kempe, Gary Odgers, Todd McDonnell and John McDiamind, but quickly recovered to lead 5-2, and were in the midst of a winning run which would ultimately extend to eight ends and take them to a 15-2 advantage. 

Unfortunately for Mannum, they were without the steady influence of Graham “Zulu” Leathers due to a medical issue during the week, which undoubtedly unbalanced this rink.

Bruce Attrill, Charlie DiSanto, Mike Ferris and Brian Leckie were having a tougher time against Gavin Pfeiffer, Tom Towns, Steve Gregory and Ainsley Roberts, winning only one of their first five ends, but remarkably, lead 6-5 after picking up all of those shots on the third end.

Pfeiffer would go on to win seven of the first eight ends but only had a three-shot lead to show for it, which reduced to one shot at the break.

Meanwhile, McDonnell had staged a remarkable comeback against Traeger, adding 16 shots to three to go into the break with a 16-11 lead.

Murray Bridge led 35-30 at this stage, but Mannum were starting to make their move.

The dominance of McIntosh's rink was able to maintain the advantage for Murray Bridge upon the resumption as he extended his lead to 20-4, but Kempe finally managed to turn the tide and scored nine shots to one to go to the final end, with Mannum up one shot overall. 

The final end saw Kempe holding two shots when Trewren went to the mat with his last bowl. 

He had no option but run into the pack, executing the shot perfectly, springing the jack to a teammates bowl. 

Kempe attempted to take out this bowl, but missed. 

When McIntosh added a second shot, Kempe needed to outdraw them both, and under great pressure managed to do so to regain the advantage. 

The pressure was back on McIntosh, and his teammates were ecstatic as his bowl pulled up within two inches of the ditch to narrowly beat Kempe for shot.

Meanwhile, McDonnell had completed his comeback to defeat Traeger 23-16, but Traeger had scored the final three shots over the last two ends and the scores were locked away.

It was up to Attrill and Pfeiffer to decide the winner, and Attrill had the advantage of holding shot as the drama unfolded on the adjoining rink. 

When Attrill added a second, Pfeiffer had the task of pulling off an almost impossible draw shot with his final bowl. 

It sailed past, a little wide, and Attrill had the luxury of pocketing his final bowl, happy to draw his rink at 18 all and take the 56-54 win.

The win was one of the closest and most entertaining seen for many years. 

Mannum would be disappointed with the result, but could hardly feel the same way about their season and the manner in which they played. 

Murray Bridge team manager Trewren graciously acknowledged the home ground advantage may well have been the deciding factor as he accepted the shield for his team.

Indeed, in what is probably a first, Murray Bridge were actually in negative territory as far as shots scored over the entire season goes.

That, of course, meant absolutely nothing as they downed their celebratory drinks.

The division two grand final followed almost the same script as division one, with Murray Bridge defeating Jervois by three shots after starting well, momentarily conceding the lead, but finishing strong.

Ted Baxter, Maxine Stazinowski, Ian Zadow and David Ratsch were on song against Trevor Mann, Len Gommers, Coralie Batchelor and Grace Hameister, leading 11-3 by the break, and extending this to 10 shots soon after.

Malcolm Carter, Judy Zadow, Kay Edson and John Bubner were just two shots clear of Rod Harris, Owen Allen, Scott Dinham and Malcolm Clayson, 9-7.

Les Trewren, Gerry Penta, Bill Edson and Haydn Hein were one shot adrift of Daryl Little, Rob Tyas, Jock Hart and Stuart McCulloch, giving Murray Bridge a nine shot lead overall.

After 14 ends Murray Bridge had extended their lead by a further two shots, but the 15th end across the three rinks changed things dramatically. 

Jervois scored four, four and three, and in less than a minute, the deficit had been totally wiped out and the scores level.

Unfortunately for Harris, he could not maintain this momentum, winning only one more end from this point, as Carter went on to win 20-13. 

Mann, however, made the most of it, and went on to win five of the next six, including a five on the 19th to run out a 22-15 winner in a 15-shot turnaround.

The real drama unfolded on the final rink. 

Little had seemingly taken the ascendancy with an 18-12 lead, but Trewren came back strongly to also win five of the last six ends. 

The final end was the most dramatic as Trewren picked up the jack from being a shot down to convert to five up. 

Not only did that give his rink a three shot win, but it turned a probable Jervois win into a Murray Bridge victory. 

Much as his son Tony had just done on the neighbouring green in division one, Les had changed the game with one bowl, but even more emphatically for a 57-54 win.

Jervois defeated Mannum Green 36-30 in a division three contest which lacked the drama of the upper two divisions.

Although the final margin was only six shots, Jervois led from the fourth end onwards, and always looked likely winners.

Elaine Atkins, Brian Spinks, Lorraine Venning and Ash Hunt prevailed 21-13 over Pam Eichler, Chad Mason, Geri Palmer-Bishop and Jim Fenemore. 

A five on the ninth end gave Atkins a good break and she looked to be in control from thereon.

It was a bit harder for Ted Roberts, Craig Nulty, Des Kluske and John Atkins, who were overrun on the final end by Bob Hughes, Ian Begg, Dave Kennett and Angela Witherington to go down 15-17.

Hughes had been trailing 14-7, but scored 10-1 over the final seven ends.

Roberts had saved his side on numerous occasions up to this point, and although going down in the end, had done enough to help ensure Jervois would prevail overall.

Lower Murray Hard Court Tennis Association awards handed out

At the conclusion of grand final matches played at various venues on both Friday night and Saturday, the Lower Murray Hard Court Tennis Association’s season has culminated with a presentation at Mannum Golf Club.

More than 80 players and family members were welcomed by association president Steve Manning.

Master of ceremonies Peter Eckert introduced himself and explained how he became involved in tennis as well as his current involvement.

This season, the junior format remained the same as last season. 

Teams consisted of six players and ranked players in order of merit to make all teams relatively even. 

This season an additional three teams entered. 

The 12 teams consisted of four from Jervois, five Lutheran and three from Mannum. 

The use of green dot and orange dot balls continued to be well received and proved to work. 

For the finals, the LMHCTA executive decided to have the top four teams play for a division one shield, teams five to eight for a division two shield and teams nine to 12 for the division three shield.

Presentation of the shields and medallions to the premiership teams of the junior divisions was the first ceremony of the night, with the runner-up teams also receiving a shield. 

The junior team captains did a great job of making speeches to thank various people.

Life member Heather Richards presented the shields and medallions.

Junior trophies were presented by life member Hayley Davids.

Anthony Lapinskas provided an overview of the Inter-Association matches between a combined hard court/lawn team and Littlehampton. 

Teams consisted of 12 men, four women and four juniors. 

Littlehampton won on aggregate by two points and 12 games. 

Everyone who participated enjoyed playing different opponents and was keen to play again next season. 

LMHCTA players included juniors Shine Ayal and Lachlan and Tessa Sonntag, and seniors LD Erasmus, Sabastian Erasmus, Steve Manning, Charlton Manning, Anthony Lapinskas, Jack Joy, Paul Hein, Roger Head, John Owens, Courtney Manning, Lily King and Lauren Schutz.

SAPSASA LMHCTA representatives were Erin Scott (Mannum), Makaela Saye, Logan Smith, Dylan Flett, Jordan Ireland (Jervois) and Josh Zarantonello, Issac Rowland, Suleman Khan (Lutheran).

The presentations then focused on the seniors.

The Friday night competition again proved to be strong, with grand finalists Brinkley and Jervois competing for the honours. 

Jervois was victorious 9-74 to Brinkley 3-51. 

The runner-up and winners’ shields and medallions were presented by life member Cindy Hein.

Perpetual trophies were presented by life member Anne Davids.

Barry Noye Perpetual Trophy for the best female player in the Friday night competition, chosen from the women playing at the highest position of female players in each team and weighted according to the position played, was awarded to Mannum’s Tracy Dabinett.

The BTS Perpetual Trophy for the best male player in the Friday night competition, after playing number one and winning 13 sets, was awarded to Brinkley’s Paul Hein for his outstanding season.

The Bruce Maczkowiack Perpetual Award, to recognise achievement within the association, was presented by last year’s winner, Barrie Gale to Mannum’s Lachlan and Tessa Sonntag, the brother and sister combination, for winning the male and female junior trophies two years in a row while playing positions one and two respectively.

This season, both played their first Friday night matches as well as participating in the inter-association match against Littlehampton and have represented LMHCTA at the country carnival in previous years. 

Lachlan and Tessa are polite, demonstrate exceptional sportsmanship and, given their performances this season, have the potential to be the association’s next number one players. 

Well done and congratulations on a fantastic season and all the very best for seasons to come.

Life memberships were given to Barrie Gale and Brendan Lambe for their long involvement with the LMHCTA. 

Barrie has been a long-time delegate for Jervois and is the current recorder. 

Over the years, he has been heavily involved with country carnival and junior development, including being a long-standing junior team manager.

Barrie will always help wherever needed, including providing tips to juniors and aspiring number one players.

Brendan is the current Brinkley president. 

He commenced playing in juniors and continues to be a regular top three senior player for Brinkley. 

He has been involved as an association delegate for Brinkley for many years, and served as president for seven years, stepping aside this season to take on the role of vice president.

To wrap up the evening, Peter Eckert told how he hoped to see the association continue to strengthen and thanked the association executive committee for all their efforts with running the association during the season.

Thanks to Mannum Tennis Club for organising and hosting the event.

Grand finals

• Senior: Jervois 9-74 defeated Brinkley 3-51.
• Junior division one: Jervois Pelicans 3-35 lost to Jervois Bulls 6-47. Teams played twice during the season in rounds three and 14, each team winning once.
• Junior division two: Lutheran Wallabies 4-37 lost to Jervois Bears 5-35. Teams played twice during the season with Lutheran winning both games.
• Junior division three: Lutheran Wombats 2-25 lost to Mannum Gold 7-46. Wombats had won their only encounter during the season in round seven.

Individual awards

• Life membership: Barrie Gale, Jervois, and Brendan Lambe, Brinkley
• Bruce Maczkowiack Perpetual Award: Lachlan and Tessa Sonntag, Mannum
• BTS Perpetual Trophy: Paul Hein, Brinkley
• Barry Noye Perpetual Trophy: Tracy Dabinett, Mannum
• Most sets, male: LD Erasmus, Lutheran; runner-up Paul Hein, Brinkley
• Most sets, female: Heather Richards, Brinkley; runner-up Ally Wendelborn, Brinkley
• Most sets, junior male: Lachlan Sonntag, Mannum; runner-up Jayden Jaensch, Jervois
• Most sets, junior female: Tessa Sonntag, Mannum; runner-up Georgia Rich, Jervois

Up-and-down golfer Kyle Nixon is on a high this week

What a weekend for Kyle Nixon.

The good news for the recently joined Murray Bridge Golf Club member?

He won Saturday's Stableford competition in fine style. 

The bad news? 

He broke his wrist at home the next day and will be out of action for some time now.

What a roller-coaster ride he has endured since stepping out for competition golf barely a month ago.

Starting with a handicap of 13, he finds himself 10 rounds later on almost scratch, or 0.5.

That is some sort of introduction to golf, but the pause button has now been pushed so time will tell how he comes back later on. 

Well played on Saturday, Kyle. 

His 39 points – off a two handicap – was enough to win the day and it included an eagle on the new ninth hole when he chipped in for a two from 80 metres out!

Unfortunately for him, fellow giant-hitting A-grader Luke Woods also chipped in for an eagle two on the 18th from about the same distance, forcing each player to share the still healthy eagle's nest.

With the course in pristine condition after the highly successful Legends Pro Am over the preceding two days, there was plenty of good golf played.

The highly talented Tyson Pratt perhaps played the best of it – for nine holes, anyway – when he shot a two-under-the-card 32 on the back nine for a sizzling 23 Stableford points and a win in the day's pro comp. 

New member Fabian Poharama got a taste for the yabby by beating everyone else to be closest to the pin on the awkward par three 14th.

Following a long layoff with serious injury, returning member Gary Pearson was beaming after his round, claiming his best-ever score of 52 points, remarking even then, that "he had still left some shots out there".

Mouths dropped all round with stunned silence from all nearby but his delight was short-lived; his scores were entered into the computer and an amended tally of 22 points was confirmed upon audit. 

The unforgiving computer is one device that simply cannot be argued with or bought for any favours.

It will be Stableford time again this Saturday; all are welcome to come and try their luck.

Todd Atkins breaks through in state super sedan final

Victorian Todd Atkins has put in one of his career-best drives to race from position 12 on the grid, and put a big crash by his brother Brock to the back of his mind, to claim the super sedan South Australian title at the Murray Bridge Speedway.

The race got off to a eventful start: Darren Kane and Brock Atkins were racing hard into the first corner, before Atkins biked into turn two, dug in and rolled over, coming to a rest upside down against the fence, with his brother forced to slam on the brakes to come to a stop just behind the upside-down car.

Brock emerged unhurt but his race was over, elevating Dave Gartner to the front row alongside Kane for the restart.

• Read more: www.facebook.com/speedwaysedansaustralia.

Send your sports reports to liana@murraybridge.news.