Sturt completed its final round of Saturday pre-season trials against Adelaide Bowling Club on Saturday 3 October, with matches split between the two clubs’ greens.
Across the grades, team managers welcomed the opportunity for one last serious hit-out against strong opposition before the pennant season begins.
Reporting on Sturt I, Team Manager and Director of Bowls Richard Weeks summed up the mood: “It was a very valuable hit-out against a quality outfit. We are well and truly ready for the season to start.”
The other reports tell a similar story — valuable competition, some encouraging performances and a final opportunity to sharpen up under match conditions.
Bring on the pennant season.
Sturt I report by Team Manager Richard Weeks
Sturt I travelled to Adelaide Bowling Club for our last trial match prior to the commencement of the new pennant season.
Conditions were cool and rather windy on the day.
The greens were a little heavy after heavy rain on Thursday, but they played well and were a comfortable speed.
Adelaide's team featured six regular Premier League players, including current State players Corey and Charlie Hicks.
Three of the rinks were in very close matches throughout the afternoon, with Adelaide ultimately winning two and Sturt winning one.
Well done to Dave Howard, Neville Riddle, Stephen Jones and Alex Smith on their win.
On the fouth rink, Adelaide's Charlie Hicks put on an incredible display skipping. His draw bowling was very effective, and his many drives were nothing short of exceptional, leading his rink to a comfortable victory.
It was a very valuable hit-out against a quality outfit. We are well and truly ready for the season to start.
Sturt II report by Team Manager Rod Stuart
It was a cold day and a slow green following light rain.
Blustering, swirly winds demanded concentration all day with lots of surprising bowl behaviour.
Overall, a good performance against a top club fielding many Division I and II players. We shouldn’t be in Division 5 much longer!
A valuable exercise for the club and hopefully, as suggested, it is a forerunner of an annual event that would greatly assist our aspirations.
Russell Moore’s rink: 24 – 13
Strong result winning 15 ends. On top early, answering any good bowls from the opposition and kept on top all day. Only hiccup was losing by 5 on the twelfth end.
Paul Teesdale’s rink: 17 -17
Good all-round performance but we dropped the last 4 ends to generously give them a draw.
Peter Welsh’s rink: 18 – 18
Tight match all day winning 13 of 20 ends. A dropped 5 on the second to last end gave them brief hope but Sturt answered the call to win the last end for a draw.
Steve Young’s rink: 26 – 10
While everybody bowled well and had bowls in the head, we were given a demonstration of what a Division I skip can do.
Sturt III report by Team Manager Ralph Hounslow
The final Saturday friendly before Pennants kick off next Saturday, was played against Adelaide Bowling Club.
Sturt III played at home where conditions were ‘spring-like’. It was a blend of cool, breezy, occasional bursts of sunshine and ‘not breezy’.
It was a jacket on/jacket off sort of day.
Fortunately, the morning drizzle cleared away and stayed away for the duration of the game. But the green was slow.
The four rinks were skippered by Deane Pye, Mocha Dunstan, Jackie Hammond and Margie Haines.
The Deane Pye rink played a game of three phases - losing, winning and finally losing. Better you don’t hear the score (10/26).
Margie Haines’s rink won 16 ends and finished 27/13 up. Well played Margie on your first outing as Skip I understand. The only winning rink.
Jackie Hammond’s team had a great battle with 14 single-digit ends between the two teams. The score was 16/19.
Mocha Dunstan’s team also had a great arm wrestle, being 16 all after 19 ends. The score at the finish was 16 / 21 but a good game.
Adelaide took the honours for the day winning 3 rinks.
A good day for Sturt with an opportunity to sharpen up against good opposition.
Sturt IV report by Team Manager Nick Manglaras
An overcast day at Sturt, the threat of drizzle and a coolish breeze towards the end, as Sturt IV took on Adelaide.
It was a tight tussle, but the Sturters prevailed, three rinks up, two down (100 - 88).
Karen Esdale's rink (Cathy Ross/Sharon Irwin/Nick Manglaras) gave their opponents a thrashing (32-9). All bowled exceptionally well, with Nick getting some light-hearted abuse from the opposition skipper for his wicks (there weren't that many!).
The Jake Ettridge rink had a tight game but came out on top by three shots. Den Vail was magnificent all day, putting his opponent to the sword (Spurs should take a lesson).
Noal Mullins continued his excellent form of late.
The Ed Parker rink was neck and neck early on, but the game got away in the middle stages and Adelaide prevailed.
The Peter Mann rink had a dirty day, which is surprising given the quality of the bowlers. Perhaps more hydration and sustenance was required.
Matt Jeffery tells me he put some excellent bowls in to save some ends, well done Matt.
It was touch and go whether the John Griffith rink would have an opposition, but Adelaide managed to send a four (parking was not a problem).
The Sturters had a comfortable win, with the Italian legend Giovanni Spagnuolo leading the way with his idiosyncratic style.
All up, a great hit-out in preparation for the start of the season and a looming premiership.
Sturt V & VI informal report
The internal practice matches between Sturt pennant bowlers were lively affairs, as recorded in the photos.
Of note were the high spirits on the rink featuring a battle between Martin Fry’s team and Dirk de Jong’s.
Unsurprisingly, the "culprits" included Sonia Matteucci, Di Fullerton and Wayne Berryman. It was a shock introduction to the comedic capabilities of these characters to new bowler, John Fullerton.
Enthusiastic bowlers on other rinks included Sharon Irwin, Phil McCartney, Cathy Ross, Michelle Kirby, Libby Lock, Bruce Murray, Maria Canala and Neville Robinson.
One rink finished earlier than the others, so unfortunately their photos don’t feature in the collection.
Beyond the fun, there was some good bowling on show.