Sport
11 March, 2025
Maryborough Golf Blue win division one title in all-time final over Dunolly Blue
Maryborough Golf Blue prevailed against Dunolly Blue 55-54 to claim the division one crown in what is sure to go down as one of the greatest grand finals in the history of the Goldfields Playing Area.
Both teams headed into Saturday in scorching form, knocking off reigning three-peat champions Highland Tartan to qualify for the season finale.
They continued that form with a gripping see-saw contest, which left the capacity crowd on the edge of their seats.
With both teams firing on all cylinders immediately, neither could take full control of the contest, however, Golf Blue had the slight edge in the early stages, leading 8-6 after nine ends.
Golf extended that lead by three shots over the next 16 ends, holding a 25-20 advantage after 25 ends.
Determined not to see Golf Blue pull away, Dunolly Blue answered back emphatically, taking the lead 36-35 with 41 ends played.
The lead went back and forth as this tantalising game reached its crescendo, with Golf Blue ahead by the narrowest of margins 50-49 with only five ends to play.
With the game coming down to the wire, it looked like Dunolly Blue’s finals experience would be the difference maker, scoring five unanswered shots across three magical ends to lead by four shots.
With the last two ends played almost simultaneously, Golf Blue knew the formula they needed to pull off a miracle.
With the 62nd end reducing Dunolly Blue’s lead by one point, the team of Laurence Thomas, Reg Cloke, Bob Barby, and Kevin Prime produced an other-worldly final leg, placing them four up with only two Dunolly Blue bowls left.
All the pressure was on Alan Weir to deny a remarkable comeback. Despite his best efforts, his two drives missed the kitty by a whisker, allowing Golf Blue to celebrate a classic victory in the most astonishing of circumstances.
While Dunolly Blue’s Tony Galofaro defeated Anthony Chambers 20-15, Gerry Carmody removed that deficit with a 20-15 victory over Peter Waters before Kevin Prime finished an exceptional display of bowls with a 20-19 win against Alan Weir.
Golf Blue team manager Gary Chaplin said the result is the culmination of a spectacular season for Maryborough Golf, represented in all three Goldfields Playing Area grand finals.
“You probably couldn’t get a better grand final when it comes to one-shot overall, everyone was on the edge of their seats but it was played in a good spirit and it was a really good game of bowls,” he said.
“The comradery within the association is pretty good with all the clubs, Dunolly is one of the clubs we get along with really well.
“To have three teams to make grand finals has been astronomical for the club.
“I don’t think we were thinking anything of the sort at the start of the season, it’s the first time in the club’s history we have had three sides in the grand final.”
Chaplin said the entire team contributed to ensure Golf Blue got over the line.
“You try and concentrate on your rink, but in the end when it’s coming so close, skippers are looking at the rinks and trying to work out who’s up and who’s down,” he said.
“It’s not just one rink, it’s a team effort and that’s what bowls is about, it’s about the team’s efforts right across the board.
“It has been a long time, we have been in finals before but to get to this one has probably been a bit more special because we have been up and down at certain times of the year but pulled it out at the right time.
“For so many people who have put in hard work over the 12 months, this is for all those people too.”