It was an impressive under-18 state championship for Moama Steamers bowlers Gracie Retallick and Jacob Brighton.
The championships were held at Club Sunbury from April 2 to 7, with Retallick claiming the girls’ pairs title along with Kyabram partner Mackenzie Parsons, while Brighton claimed silver in the open triples along with partners Joshua Leszczynski of Club Sunbury and Sam Nemeth of Bendigo East.
Retallick’s journey to the title began with a dominant round-one victory 28-3.
Things were closer in the quarter-final where Maya Rees of Drysdale and Addy Ryan of Learmonth pushed the pair, and Retallick and Parsons eventually emerging narrowly ahead 11-8.
A routine 18-4 win in the semi-final led the pair to a final against Mia O’Reilly of Altona and Ashleigh Moffat of Club Sunbury, but Retallick and Parsons proved their quality, taking the match and the title 17-11.
David Cartwright coaches the Goulburn Valley Devils junior development squad of which both Retallick and Parsons are a part.
“They’re great mates,” he said of the pair.
“In training they're nearly inseparable and the fun and the joy you see on their faces, and the confidence that both of them have built in the three or four days last week was just amazing.
“The shot selection and the communication of reading the head was second to none.
“The growth in that area of the game was exceptional and it showed on the last day of the finals.
“Some of the shots they were playing and calling were at an elite level, and to pull them off, that’s all the hard work they’ve been doing, all the training and self-belief.
“The results really speak for themselves. I couldn't be prouder as a coach to see the development in both the kids, but Gracie especially, her confidence has grown.
“The world’s her oyster now.”
Retallick joined the Devils around five weeks ago, having previously worked with Stuart Whyte in the Campaspe Cannons, which also had a strong showing courtesy of Brighton’s performance in the triples.
His campaign started with the defeat of Kyabram trio Charlie Boswood, Henry Boswood and Jacob Cartwright, 17-14.
Round two saw his team claim a dominant 29-2 victory, before managing a narrow win, 16-14 in the quarter-finals.
The trio continued to roll through the semi-final, taking it 19-14 before their run was ended in the final by Jack Cassidy of Moonee Valley, Koby Cromie of Yarrawonga and Kane Wilson of Barham, who took the title 16-12.
Locals put in good showing for defeated Country
Four Moama bowlers travelled to Bendigo East Bowling Club on Saturday, April 6, and Sunday, April 7, to represent Country in the City vs Country event, organised by Bowls Victoria.
Although City took out the men’s and women’s events this time around, tying the all-time series, the locals put in a good performance for Country.
In the women’s division, Olivia Cartwright, Cassandra Millerick and Emma Simmonds all represented Moama, while Cameron Keenan played in the men’s division.
The event was contested over three rounds, with each round consisting of four rinks of four bowlers per division.
In round one, Simmonds skipped a squad that featured Cartwright as lead, with the rink ending tied 14-14, while Millerick skipped a quartet that was defeated 24-17.
In round two, Cartwright skipped a rink in which Country edged ahead 20-19 after taking four shots from the final two ends.
Millerick skipped Country to a big win 21-9, while Simmonds was unable to score victory in the rink she skipped, going down 22-13.
In round three, Simmonds scored a 24-17 victory, while Cartwright fell 26-17 and Millerick was also defeated 21-12.
City won all three rounds overall in the women’s division, taking the first 81-55, the second 81-68, and the third 86-71.
On the men’s side, Keenan bowled lead in all three rounds, starting off with a 27-15 victory in round one.
In round two, Keenan’s quartet went down 21-15, while his team also suffered a narrow rink loss in round three, losing 14-12.
City won the men’s division two rounds to one, taking rounds one and two, 91-70 and 87-62 respectively, before Country clawed one back in round three, taking it 66-61.
The event was an opportunity for bowlers to make their case for state team selection.