By Tara Murray
Club Sunbury had the perfect start to 2025 in the Bowls Victoria weekend pennant, division 1, section 1 competition.
After a disappointing end to 2024 which resulted in the side slipping outside the top four, Sunbury resumed its season on Saturday against Yarraville Footscray 2.
Despite missing a few players, Sunbury came away with all the points in the 97 (18)- 56 (0) win.
Sunbury’s David Glennon said they were happy with that performance to start the new year.
“We got off on the right foot,” he said. “The results from yesterday move us up to second on the ladder.
We had a few absences and Kelvin Kerkow, who is a great player, flew down from Queensland to play which was really exciting.
“It was a really solid win across the board.”
Kerkow is the coach of Club Sunbury’s Bowls Premier League side Melbourne eXtreme, giving him a connection to the club already.
He skipped on Saturday, with his rink winning 29-10. Lauchlin Davies’ rink won 23-18, Mark Cowan’s rink won 22-12 and Mark Armstrong’s rink was 23-16.
Glennon said Kerkow, Cowan, Paul Cullis and Mark Ryan were the standouts in the win.
The win and Deer Park 2’s loss to Melton, moves Sunbury into second spot.
It is 25 points behind Glenroy which is top, while Sunbury is 11 points clear of Deer Park, which slipped to third. There’s then a race on for fourth spot.
“There’s only four games to go,” Glennon said “We have a big one this week against Melton, which upset Deer Park.
“They have a few former Sunbury players and they’re fighting against relegation.”
Glennon said the aim for the group the next few weeks is to lock in a top two spot heading into finals.
It was a mixed day for Sunbury on Saturday with three sides getting wins and three sides suffering losses.
Meanwhile in the Ballarat Highlands Bowls Region’ Highlands weekend pennant, it was a week for upsets in division 1.
Gisborne caused an upset in beating top side Kyneton.
Gisborne claimed the win in the first game back for the new year, winning 61 (14)-57 (2).
Mark Kaufmann and Peter Williams were the winning skips for Gisborne, while John O’Donnell was the winning skip for Kyneton.
Despite the loss, Kyneton remains on top. Gisborne sits in sixth spot.
In other matches, Kyneton Golf lost to Broadford, 69 (14)-53 (2). It was Broadford’s second win of the season.
Bottom side Lancefield also caused an upset win, beating Diggers Rest, 75 (14)-51 (2)
Jeff Holmes and Jack Parks were the winning skips for Lancefield.
Romsey was the only side in the top four to come away with a win, beating Trentham, 78 (16)-40 (0).
All rinks won by at least nine shots.
Kilmore had the bye.
