Sport
4 November, 2021
Confidence high ahead of Dunkeld test
THEY may be facing the new kids on the block, but Terang selector Jamie Heffernan believes his club has no reason not to be confident as it opens its Western District Bowls season on Saturday.
THEY may be facing the new kids on the block, but Terang selector Jamie Heffernan believes his club has no reason not to be confident as it opens its Western District Bowls season on Saturday.
Terang is set to hit the road to face division two premiers and top grade newcomers Dunkeld Blue in the opening week of the pennant season.
The season was initially meant to start on October 23 but COVID restrictions prevented rounds one and two from being played.
Rounds one and two have since been rescheduled, with the grand final pushed back a week to accommodate the changes and allow 14 rounds to be played.
But Heffernan is optimistic the delayed start will not impact his side once it hits the green as it aims to bounce back from a disappointing 2020/21 campaign.
Terang finished eighth on the ladder with four wins and a draw.
“We go in with a bit of confidence,” Heffernan said.
“I know a few of them, I used to play in the group side with Angus Jackson and Darren Gordon and a few of them and I’m not sure what they will line-up like but we enter with a positive mindset.
“We’ve picked up Denis Delaney from Winchelsea and there’s a few others coming into division one and up there on their green it should suit us because it runs a similar pace as ours.
“It shouldn’t hold any trouble for us and I’m confident we’ll acquit ourselves well.”
While the past years have been disappointing for Terang, Heffernan said his side was keen to wipe the slate clean.
He added the side was eager to start strongly and give itself every chance of contending for the top four.
“Traditionally the last few years we have been slow starters but this year we have a pretty good draw,” Heffernan said.
“In the first three or four weeks we have a few of the clubs who finished in the bottom half last year so hopefully we can win a few early games instead of losing a few before Christmas and then having to chase them up.
“The first few weeks will tell the story about how we’re going to go this year.”
When asked what else his side would need to do to secure a finals berth besides start well, the selector had two goals.
“If we can get those wins against sides around us and potentially win a game against one of the powerhouses,” Heffernan said.
“We tend to play well at home so if we can get a win or two against the powerhouse clubs like Warrnambool Gold or City, it would be big.
“If we’re going to make it we need a win against one or two of them when we play them or even if we just match it with them or draw with them, we’ve just got to try and upset them or something.
“We’ve got Koroit and Warrnambool Gold at home so we have to win one of those later in the season.”
Heffernan also said he thought his club’s division three side was also a good chance of earning promotion this season, while division four had a strong team on paper.
Both sides start their campaigns on their home rink, with division three welcoming Dennington Thunder and division four taking on Warrnambool Orange.