Report by Women’s Coach Peter Hughes:
On Thursday, Sturt women enjoyed their best-ever season start.
After a strong pre-season featuring numerous drills based on match situations and a variety of competitive sessions, Sturt women enjoyed beautiful conditions everywhere on Thursday 15 October.
This led to eight winning rinks, one draw and three side wins.
A significant event occurred the week before, when Sturt I, II and III played trials against very strong sides.
In each of those trials we were well down at half time, but all three Sturt sides outscored their opposition in the second half.
That’s a characteristic that has been emerging and is being highly valued. Determination, concentration, belief and optimism all day.
Sturt IV
Sturt IV had one of their best days ever since they were established last year.
It started with all players meeting at SBC at 8.00 to share transport to Glenelg and finished back at Sturt to celebrate a very promising start to the season.
Angela Murray’s rink won - giving new player Cathie Rumbelow a great start - and Team Manager Briony Lia had a draw.
Sturt III
Sturt III had an unsettled season last year and we have high hopes this year.
They have started with a bang! New players Cheryl Nathan and Ned Kelly now have a feel for pennants and are ready to fly.
Joylene Koch’s rink had a strong win 25-9 and skipper Beryl Tape had an outstanding return to the game after a 12-month injury lay-off, winning 37-14.
Her weekly gym sessions are really paying off. Beryl’s rink included her daughter Diana Parsons also playing her first ever pennant game.
(The four new pennant players - Cathie, Cheryl, Ned and Diana - are shown in the Feature photo.)
Sturt II
Sturt II won 11 out of 16 games last season and narrowly missed finals. Selection for this side is very competitive and there are many players very determined to play, and to make finals.
All Sturt rinks were up at Toorak. Janet Mullins won 19-13, Cheryl Saunders won 24-10 and Sonia Matteucci really brought it home 31-5 to be Rink of the Day. An impressive start by all.
Sturt I
Sturt I played their first game in Division 1 at home against Payneham, who finished fourth in this division last year.
It was a finals-like atmosphere until the very last bowl.
In each rink our front ends gave us valuable starts, Payneham had depth and experience, the heads changed.
Our thirds and skips, playing Cool, Calm and Collected, delivered great shots throughout the day.
We were leading all day but going into the very last end on every rink the game could have gone either way. It was nail-biting for the audience.
Karen Esdale’s rink started the last end 21-21. Karen delivered again and won by 1 shot.
Jackie Hammond playing against their leading skipper, went into the last end 17-15 and added another.
We were 4 shots up with Wendy Rutten’s rink going in 15-15. We needed the 4-shot buffer as the Payneham skip ‘stole’ 2 shots from us.
We had won by 2 shots!
Sturt players had remained focussed and sustained their belief, their rink focus and spirit all day.
An incredible start to the new season.