Bowls begins with McGilton Shield

The bowls season began on Saturday with the McGilton Shield at Trafalgar for division one clubs and the Barry Shield at Warragul for the remaining clubs.

Despite the gusty wind proving difficult at times a good day's bowls was enjoyed by everyone on good greens.

The shield involves clubs in North Strzelecki with division one sides and 96 bowlers plus spectators turned up on a beautiful day. Each Club in the McGilton Shield had three teams playing three rounds of matches.

In the first-round Moe won all three games with John Westrelo and his rink of Janine Williams, Jeff Thompson and Chris Goldsbrough defeating Newborough's Neale Houston 14 - 13. Jayde Leech and his team of John Williams, Ted Kuklinsky and John Harvey defeated Chris Deal Drouin 17 - 15. Michael Smogavec and his rink of Billy Nisbet, Tim Phillips and Barry Hawkett defeated Matt Coutts Trafalgar 16 - 7 which was a big win against the favoured locals.

In another upset Brian Smith of Traralgon RSL defeated last year's premiers Michael Yacoub Traralgon 10 - 9

In round two Moe continued on their winning ways with Westerlo defeating Dave Ashby 9 - 8 (his second win by 1 shot). Leech defeated Brian Smith Traralgon RSL 11 - 9 and Smogavec defeated Chris Hunt Morwell 15 - 10 leaving Moe heading the pack with six wins leading Trafalgar on four wins after James Scullin of Traralgon defeated Matt Coutts Trafalgar 11 - 8. Moe struggled in round three with Vin McIlwain Traralgon defeating Westerlo 16 - 7, Leech drew shot on the last end to salvage a 9 - 9 draw with Bluey Flanigan Newborough leaving Smogavec to cement the win with an 11 - 7 win over Col Jeffrey Drouin.

Moe showed that after winning division two last year they will be a strong contender in division onw bowls this year as they won a series of close games to win more games than their more fancied opponents who managed some big wins yet lost other matches. Moe had their first win in the McGilton Shield since 2011-12.

Despite not winning on the day Trafalgar ended with six wins and three losses. The highlights were Nathan Cooks rink having a 14-shot victory against Drouin and new Trafalgar bowler Wayne Lynch having a 10-shot victory over Newbrough.

Trafalgar also had five new members make their debut for the club on Saturday including Alan Cambell, Matt Walker, James McCausland, Wayne Lynch and Josh Kennedy.

In the Barry Shield at Warragul nine clubs participated with each club having two teams playing three rounds of bowls. Boolarra got out to an early lead winning the first four games in the morning and holding a handy shots advantage over the other clubs including Warragul and Yallourn North who each had three wins.

Things changed dramatically after the lunch break. Churchill, who had not won a game in the morning defeated Boolarra with Lorrae Dukes and her team of Heather Moir, Merv Gill and Barry Flanigan defeating Joel Anderson and his team of Dave Stevens, Terry Parker and Joelene Laukens 11-9.

The Warragul team of Robert Renn together with Matt Draisma, Ian Belling and Gaye Renn defeated Ray De Carli Yallourn North 14-10 leaving Warragul and Boolarra each with four wins. Boolarra's rink of Damien Barnes together with Glenn Slater, Jorma Takanen and Steve Davy were defeated by Graeme Wingrove Neerim District and his rink of Kay Cousins, Thelma and Jim Schroeder 12-6.

Gary Ingley and his rink of Adrian Helmuth, Gabrielle Draisma and Chris Thomas defeated Tim Roche Yinnar 12-8 to seal the Barry Shield for Warragul.