General News
11 March, 2022
Giants reach grand final after 10-year hiatus
FOR the first time since its grand final victory over Colac City in 2012 the Camperdown Bowls Club division one team have qualified for the Corangamite pennant grand final this Saturday.
FOR the first time since its grand final victory over Colac City in 2012 the Camperdown Bowls Club division one team have qualified for the Corangamite pennant grand final this Saturday.
The Giants made good use of the second chance they earned by finishing second on the ladder, defeating City by 23 shots on their home green.
The Giants lost three of their four rinks, but all by three shots or less, whereas Camperdown skipper Mark McDonald’s team romped home to a 24-shot win over City’s Kenneth Hanson.
McDonald led all day, eventually winning 35-11, easily covering the narrow losses of skippers Matthew Brewer (18-21), Luke Wright (18-20) and Ronald Cameron (22-24).
Skipper and club president Brewer said staying competitive in those three losing rinks was the key to victory on the day.
“It really was a team effort across the board, everyone’s rapt” he said.
“Mark had a terrific win on his rink, they all bowled extremely well to set up the victory, but you don’t get to grand finals unless everyone’s doing their bit.
“Our other three rinks were shot for shot all day, we could quite easily have won all four rinks.
“But we kept it tight across the board, nice and close; if you’re going to lose, make it tight and give everyone else an opportunity.”
10 years ago, the successful Camperdown side, which included current team members Brewer, Len Searle, Ron Cameron, Fred Salmon, and Barry Atchison, took their premiership form to the
regional finals, winning that and earning their way to the state championship.
Brewer hopes the Giants can emulate that side this week, but knows his side have their work cut out for them if they want to beat the Colac side that defeated them two weekends ago in the qualifying semi-final.
“We need to stay together as a group, we had a couple of rinks go down by 12 shots last time we played them, so it’s a matter of keeping it a bit tighter,” he said.
“We realise we don’t have the depth that Colac have in their side, being as large as they are, but we have to contribute as a 16-person team, as we’ve done for most of the year.
“I think if we all contribute we’re a chance.”
In the interest of promoting the sense of unity and common purpose the side spent last night practicing together before enjoying a BBQ dinner at the club and will breakfast together Saturday morning before taking a team bus to Colac.
“We’re all looking forward to a few big days, it’s just about keeping everyone together,” said Brewer.
“That’s what we’ve been trying to do all year, and it’s worked for us so far, so let’s see it out to the end.”