Cobram Bowls Club results

By Contributed

Jan 28, 2025

Cobram’s Luke Quinane delivers his bowl under the lights in the closing stages of the game against Tocumwal, as team-mates and opposition look on. Credit: Haydn Smith. Photo by Contributed

The latest round of Murray Pennant bowls began last Friday night at Tocumwal when division one sides Tocumwal and Cobram met. Cobram’s Greg Dunn’s team was pressured from the outset against Tocumwal’s Rod Brown and his side. Brown only surrendered five of the 21 ends to take the rink points with a convincing display. Dunn 12 to Brown 30. Cobram skipper Ray Parks assisted in closing the overall deficit with his team, Luke Dunn (lead), David Bewley (second) and Luke Quinane (third) in their game against Toc’s Steven Lane. Parks was able to hold a steady buffer between himself and Lane for the majority of the evening. Parks 24 to Lane 13.

Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content

The game between Cobram’s Steve Tatnall and Tocumwal’s Stephen Guille saw Cobram hit the front early and maintain the lead until the conclusion. Tatnall’s team consisted of David Quinane (lead), Allan McDonald (second) and John Dixon (third).

Tatnall and Dixon, especially Dixon, dominated the rink and caused havoc for Guille and his crew. Tatnall 26 to Guille 14. The conclusion of the game was tense due to the closeness of the overall scores, but it was Cobram that took the points under the lights. Cobram 62 shots, 14 points to Tocumwal 57 points, two points.

Cobram division two travelled to Finley. Finley were marginally out of the four and looking to have their second win over second placed Cobram in an effort to play finals. Cobram’s Colin McDonald (skip) with Joy Mynard (lead), Heath Smith (second) and Russell Sullivan (third) combined well to out-play a Finley rink skipped by Ashleigh Haines.

Despite Ashleigh Haines’ rink consisting of some quality bowlers, McDonald took the rink points by a generous margin. McDonald 25 to Haines 10. In the game between Finley’s Gordon Haines and Cobram’s Ron Dougherty, Finley had all the answers. Gordon Haines got away to a good start, but Dougherty levelled the score to seven-all after six ends. Gordon Haines and his team then applied themselves again, doing enough to win the majority of the ends on their way to victory. Dougherty 16 to Haines 24.

The third match-up between these sides saw the battle of the Smiths in Cobram’s Haydn Smith against Finley’s William Smith. Smith, of Cobram, was ably backed by Rebecca Dungan (lead), Michael Stephens (second) and Andrew Giblin (third). This combination teamed well and were able to overcome Finley’s William Smith to claim the honours. H. Smith 22 to W. Smith 11. Overall, Cobram 63 shots, 14 points to Finley 45 shots, two points.

Cobram’s division three hosted Nathalia’s number one side in a possible dress rehearsal for finals, with both sides sitting inside the four. Cobram’s Phill O’Dwyer opposed Nathalia’s Peter Hutchins. O’Dwyer’s team consisted of Jake Madgwick (lead), Trevor Wood (second) and Carol Doherty (third). This line-up was more consistent over the 21 ends to take the rink points from Nathalia. O’Dwyer 20 to P. Hutchins 15.

Cobram’s Koby Madgwick (lead), Andrew Madgwick (second), Doug Pocknee (third) with Darryl O’Connor (skip), didn’t have it all their own way in their game against Nathalia’s Keith Holland. O’Connor was in front for most of the afternoon, but the margin was small. When the dust settled, it was a solitary shot that separated the teams. O’Connor 19 to Holland 18.

The Cobram team of Annette Temple (lead), Sue Carter (second), Kevin Saunders (third) and Marj McDonald (skip) were too strong on the day for Nathalia’s Jack Hutchins’ side. On the eighth end, J. Hutchins scored four shots to close the gap to a single shot, with the score 9-8 in favour of McDonald.

From that point on, McDonald and her cohorts were destined for glory. M. McDonald 26 to J. Hutchins 12. Overall, it was Cobram 65 shots, 16 points to Nathalia 45 shots, nil points. Cobram, in second place on the table, will face the undefeated ladder leaders, Picola, next week at Picola.

Cobram division four were due to play Numurkah Golf at Cobram. Numurkah Golf failed to attend, and the match was forfeited to Cobram. This forfeit counts as a win and as such, Cobram four maintain their unbeaten record and ladder-leading status. Next week, Cobram will play fourth-placed Tocumwal at Tocumwal.

In division five, Cobram Yellow were at home to Tocumwal. Cobram’s John Hanlon (lead), Mal Phillips (second), Andrew Dunlop (third) and Julie Cain (skip) did well to overcome Tocumwal’s Bob Adams. Cain 19 to Adams 15.

The Cobram rink skipped by David Stock were outstanding in their encounter against Tocumwal’s Peter Martin. Ty Madgwick (lead), Donna Bacon (second) and Colin Rankin (third) backed Stock to the hilt to comfortably take the rink points. Stock 35 to Martin eight. Overall, it was Cobram 54 shots, 14 points to Tocumwal 22 shots, nil points.

Also in division five, Cobram Black were at home to Nathalia. Cobram’s Ian Bray lost 13 to 24 against Nathalia’s Tim Cullen. Alan Cain from Cobram went down by three shots to Nathalia’s Chris Briggs, 18-21. Cobram 31, nil points to Nathalia 45 shots, 14 points.

In other bowls news, last Thursday saw the finals of the ladies’ and men’s club singles championships. The members that attended were treated to two quality games of bowls played in the best of spirits.

In the ladies’ section, it was Kerry Baldacchino who took the prize over Christine Dunne. In the men’s section, it was the Cobram version of the ‘Q Clash’ when brothers Luke and David Quinane challenged for the title, with Luke Quinane taking the honours. Well done to all four bowlers for making it to the final and congratulations to Kerry Baldacchino and Luke Quinane on being the ladies’ and men’s champions, respectively.

On Sunday, Cobram was the host club of the Murray Bowls Champion of Champion Ladies’ and Men’s Pairs. In the first round of the ladies’ section, Cobram’s Marj McDonald and Christine Dunne defeated Barooga Sports’ Libby Jennings and Diane Nye, 16-9. The tables were turned in the semi-final when the Cobram pair met Ann Milkins and Jenny O’Connor from Numurkah. Cobram nine to Numurkah 16. Milkins and O’Connor will now meet a Finley pair skipped by Nan Smith in the final.

In the men’s section, Cobram’s Ron Dougherty and David Bewley won their way into the semi-final after defeating Katandra West and Strathmerton. The ladies’ final and the men’s semi-final will be at 9.30am on Sunday at the Cobram Bowling Club.