Twelve bowlers were determined to show Echuca that they are a formidable side, and certainly did just that.
It was cold, it was windy and yes, it rained as well.
The Diggers started a little slow, and the greens were quick.
Rod Reid’s team of Chris Frampton, Sandra Hill and Archie Webster struggled all afternoon and the changing weather conditions did not help.
Echuca were throwing long ends and the Diggers couldn’t get there.
Keith Robertson, the opposition skip, was a force to be reckoned with, creating turnovers every end.
Reid’s team held on but couldn’t catch the Echuca side.
Their score after 21 ends was 22-14, with Echuca winning by eight shots.
The Diggers side of Danny Stanmore, Max Connor, Peter Thommers and Craig Taylor had a better result with a 16-20 shots finish.
Stanmore led consistently and Connor, returning after a break, did well without his bowling arm.
Thommers set up some great heads in the difficult conditions for Taylor.
Their four shot win for the two points was really needed.
Jake Glenn, Jo Chick and Neville Austin were skippered by Niels Hilton.
They had a terrible start, with Echuca having 10-0 on the card at the fifth end.
Something clicked, the team rallied and picked up a ‘five’.
Glenn shone thereafter, Chick found her groove, Austin played some very important shots as well as Hilton when required to do so.
The rain stopped, and their opposition did too, not able to reply to the Diggers’ best comeback yet.
The RSL stacked on 25 shots on compared to Echuca’s six over the next 16 ends.
Their phenomenal turnaround saw them finish with a score of 16-25.
The win by nine shots took the overall tally to 54-59, giving RSL the win plus two rinks, adding up to 14 points.
The Diggers were hungry for a big scalp and got their rewards in, beating 4th placed Echuca.
The Diggers remain in 6th position on the ladder with 76 points.
They need the win next Saturday as well to be in with a chance to move to fourth spot.
This Saturday is the region’s annual charity round.
This is the last Weekend Pennant game for 2025, and RSL will host Ky Valley View.
Pennant will be played in Christmas themed attire.
A sausage sizzle, fines and raffles will raise money for the Campaspe Division's donation to the Echuca Hospital Cancer Ward.
In Midweek Pennant, the Diggers will be on the road to Rochester today. The bus leaves at 7.30am.
Teams are as follows: L Hardcastle, I McKenzie, A Webster and R Reid (s); A Hodges, D Stanmore, C Frampton and P Thommers (s); G Gordon, M Peterman, N Austin and N Hilton (s).
RSL social bowls
RSL Social bowls on Thursday just got better, with the first draw of the Christmas ham giveaways.
Congratulations Rod Reid and Niels Hilton for being the first winners.
Two more lucky players will be drawn again at social bowls each week, over the next two weeks.
To be in the running, get down to the RSL greens by 12.30pm on Thursdays to register.
It is only $10 to play, with or without footwear.
Join in on an afternoon of fun in a very welcoming atmosphere.
RSL Diggers Christmas raffle tickets are also still available for purchase, with five prizes to be drawn on December 18.
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