Sport

Split fortunes across the Goulburn Valley men and women in Rowlands-Sutcliffe Challenge

Nov 11, 2024

Kris Ferguson finished as part of an undefeated rink on a strong day for the Goulburn Valley men. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

The stars were all out as representative affairs in the Goulburn Murray Bowls Region took centre stage for the first time in season 2024-25.

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Inter-club titles had already been taking place within the Goulburn Valley Playing Area system, but the body’s best and brightest men and women donned the rep tops to tangle with the Murray Playing Area on Sunday at Shepparton Golf Bowls Club.

On the menu was the annually-contested Rowlands-Sutcliffe Challenge, which the Goulburn Valley contingent had successfully retained on three straight occasions.

The trophy, named after a pair of regional icons in Maurie Rowlands and Geoff Sutcliffe, serves as the first step on a long line of potential representative opportunities on offer to district bowlers each season.

This time around, the Goulburn Valley men stamped their authority in completing a clean sweep of their Murray foes across three top-notch outings, prevailing 9-217 to 0-160 in a powerful showing.

The quartet of John Stokes, Charlie Boswood, Alan Dove and Shepparton Golf coach Kris Ferguson finished their three contests unbeaten with two wins and a draw.

So too, even in overall defeat, did a Murray side which featured three members of the Cartwright family that lined up on the Goulburn Valley squad a year ago.

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Goulburn Valley's Mary Greco sends one down the line. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Goulburn Valley's Charlie Boswood was one of many youthful representatives across both sides. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Goulburn Valley's Di Hands lines it up to release. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Goulburn Valley's Russell Orchard puts some speed on his delivery. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Goulburn Valley's Robert George gets set to launch. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Goulburn Valley's Scott Adams tracks his effort down the rink. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Goulburn Valley's Dianne Downie gets behind her bowl. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Goulburn Valley's Carla Miles lets it out of hand. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Goulburn Valley's Ken Sutcliffe takes a steady approach. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Goulburn Valley's Sue Moreton weighs it up before coming set. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

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Goulburn Valley's Bree Warren puts on a full-length backswing. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

The women served up a trio of quality contests, with two of the three outings decided by five shots.

The Murray side proved superior on this front, taking two affairs for an aggregate 6-197 to 3-177 result to split the two divisions between the teams.

By the end of the week, the Goulburn Murray Bowls Region committee is expected to select its groups from each division that attended Sunday to represent against the Ovens and Murray in another representative hit-out next month.