Sport
6 March, 2026
Demons’ second half surge
WEDDERBURN has finished as runners-up in North Central bowls Division 2, losing the grand final to a powerful Wycheproof side despite playing on its home greens.
The contest was up for grabs at the break, but Wyche proved too strong following afternoon tea, running away with a 23-shot win, 80-57.
Wedderburn’s Lance Standfield said Wycheproof’s playing depth told on the day.
The club also took out the Division 1 title with a narrow six-shot win over Donald Golf.
“There were only a few shots in it at the break, but they jumped a couple of our rinks after that and we couldn’t peg them back,” Standfield said.
“They are a very good side, and there’s no disgrace in going down to them.”
Standfield’s team lost by just two shots to be the best rink on the day.
He was supported by Helen Stephenson, Mario Guelfo and Geoff Burnside in the narrow defeat.
“I was a good game, and it was there to be won,” Standfield said.
“But we couldn’t get over the line in our rink, and another got close, but Wycheproof found another gear.”
Wycheproof’s rink of John Ritchie, Jeannie Grylls, George Coatsworth and Donald Denney (skip) coasted to a 14-shot win over Bernard Catherine, Neville White, Allan Noordennen and skip Colin Mills.
Steve Barratt’s Wyche team (Seth Wellington, Vince Grant and Brett Macdonald) won by seven shots over Robert Ashley, Tony Benaim, Ruth Hall and John Grant (skip) to complete the whitewash.
Standfield said that despite falling at the last hurdle it had been an impressive season from Wedderburn.
“We had three sides in the finals, and although we didn’t get any silverware we had a good year.”