With the pennant season drawing closer, competition for places is intensifying and Sturt’s pre-season trials are becoming increasingly valuable.
More than 90 bowlers took to the Unley greens on Saturday 19 September for matches against Walkerville and an internal trial that gave selectors another opportunity to assess players in different positions and combinations.
Meanwhile, Sturt II and IV teams travelled to Walkerville for trials against Walkerville's equivalent sides.
Chair of Selectors Graham Wood reports on a highly productive afternoon of bowling at Unley, which also highlighted the importance of players contributing to the work that makes match days run smoothly.
Graham Wood’s report:
Another glorious day provided the players of Sturt and Walkerville Bowling Clubs with the ideal conditions to hone their skills in the preseason trial played at Sturt on Saturday the 19th of September 2026.
Over 90 bowlers were on the Unley greens.
There were two matches against Walkerville and an internal trial for Sturt players competing for spots in the Division 6 and 7 sides.
Internal trials allow selectors to tinker with the format that is played and with the position of players within sides.
In the Saturday internal trials players competed in triples and fours.
We required players to rotate through each position within a team across the match.
This enabled players to try all positions within a bowling side, and it required players to consider and perform the requirements of each position.
The selectors have clear ideas about the composition and shape of our A Grade side.
The team on the green at Sturt on Saturday was near full strength and there is a healthy competition for a place in the side.
Sturt I played an opponent that they will meet during the pennant season in Division 2 and showed good form in easily beating an under-strength opponent. Sturt won all rinks and there were some big margins.
Sturt III won a highly competitive contest with Walkerville in a trial that provided great value to our club because of the closeness of the match.
Players were required to concentrate and to perform late into the afternoon which was good preparation for the season ahead.
A special mention for Izzy Trenorden who has set the standard for Sturt I players who are assigned Duty Rink responsibilities on match days.
Izzy was the first person at the club on Saturday and with the help of Alex Smith and Jack Trenorden ensured that all pre match preparations were completed.
Izzy then ensured that the often-forgotten post-match duties were completed to a high standard.
It's great to see all our players understanding that there is match day work to be done and contributing to the running of the club.
Go Sturt!