Sport

Steamers top BCGR Premier League

By Matthew Kappos

Mar 12, 2024

Onwards and upwards: Moama earned a place at the state championships with its victory in the Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields Bowls Region Premier League. Photo: Moama Bowling Club

Future is now: Jacob Brighton, 14, not pictured above, celebrates with the cup following his team’s win. He bowled lead in rink two, skipped by Cameron Keenan.

The Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields Bowls Region Premier League title was decided on Saturday as Moama took on Bendigo East at the South Bendigo Bowls Club.

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Bendigo East had looked to complete a fairytale rise from fourth place but it was Moama, who had been the best team in the competition all year, that took home the title 15-89 to 3-62.

The four-rink contest saw Moama take two rinks dominantly, with Alex Marshall skipping his side to a 27-12 success over Bendigo East skip Marc Smith, while Kevin Anderson also scored a big win for Moama, with the rink he skipped against James McGillivray triumphing 28-14.

Young gun Cameron Keenan was unable to skip his quartet, including Australian Open champion Cassandra Millerick, to success as it narrowly fell to the squad skipped by Paul Vlaeminck 21-19.

In the remaining rink, skips Travis Kelly of Moama and Darren Burgess could not be separated, with the contest resulting in a 15-15 draw.

This was the inaugural edition of the BCGR Premier League which features teams predominantly from Bendigo and surrounds.

The Moama side dominated the regular season, posting a 12-2 record in home-and-away play before defeating Bendigo to progress straight through to the grand final.

The win affords Moama the opportunity to represent the region at the state championships in April.

Moama Steamers Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields Bowls Region Premier League premiership team

Barry Brennan, Olivia Cartwright, Bradley Campbell, Travis Kelly (skip); Jacob Brighton, Geoffrey Beattie, Cassandra Millerick, Cameron Keenan (skip); Paul Newcombe, Kevin Brennan, Matt Robertson, Kevin Anderson (skip); Jim Hogan, Glenn Dorward, Peter Campbell, Alex Marshall (skip)

By Matthew Kappos

Cadet sports journalist