Report by Alex Smith:
In a week when Sturt teams faced each other on two occasions, it was perhaps appropriate that clubmates would once again cross swords on Sunday 8 November, with Sections 5, 6 and 8 of the Men’s Championship and Section 6 of the Women’s Championship contested on a spectacular spring day.
Section 6 – Women’s
Vicki Kavanagh, Margie Haines and Joylene Koch took to the greens in what may well have been, on paper, one of the strongest women’s sections this year, with two past champions in Vicki & Joylene as well as 2025 runner-up Margie.
Game 1 would be a rematch of the 2025 final and unfortunately for Haines the result would be the same, as Kavanagh would again triumph to the tune of 21-14.
In double duty, Kavanagh would go back-to-back 21-10 over Koch to ensure qualification.
Section 5 – Men’s
The withdrawal of Graham Wood meant Andy Hardy and Nick Manglaras contested a compelling one-game shootout, which was taken out by the emerging Andy Hardy 21-16 to book motorcycle man a place in the knockout round.
Section 6 – Men’s
2023 runner-up Teesdale headlined this section, where he would face Rod Stuart and Robb Nuus. Teesa made a winning start, defeating Robb 21–11 in Game 1. Robb then suffered a second defeat, 4–21 to Rod, ruling him out of sectional contention.
Mr Stuart would attempt to keep the momentum going, however Paul and his bright yellow bowls would tease out a victory 21-15 to finish the day undefeated.
Section 8 – Men’s
The final section for the day was by no means least, with Graeme ‘Mocha’ Dunstan (whose member profile has been featured in the October edition of BowlsSA’s The Bowler), Dave ‘Colonel’ Howard and Adam ‘Hoist, Bill, Hilly…’ Hill taking to the greens.
The Colonel made a clear statement of intent in Game 1, besting Mocha 21–11, before booking his place in the knockouts by repeating the dose, 21–11, against Hilly in Game 2, as the (self-professed epic) 120Ys and Completely Biased Night Owls rivalry took on a different form
Mocha & Hilly would get their bowls fix playing out Game 3 with a 21-12 victory for the latter…who my informants tell me might still be rolling up at the Sturtress… never change Bill.
Handicap Singles competition
In the Handicap singles competition, Russell Moore (0) bested Stew Allen (3) 21-11 to kickstart his campaign in a competition he won all the way back in 2002.
Go Sturt.