Dookie's Des Thorp lines up a roll.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
As Euroa claimed the division one Goulburn Valley Playing Area midweek bowls pennant from fourth, it was clearly a cause for inspiration across the lower grades.
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Mark it down, 2026 is the year of the underdog.
Division two saw Nagambie and Shepparton Golf duke it out at Tatura, with minor premier Shepparton Park bundled out in straight sets.
A 24-shot lead for the opening rink set up Nagambie for success, and while Shepparton Golf would fight to tie the second and third rinks, it was not enough to swing the score back in its favour, Nagambie winning 14-72 to 2-48.
In division three, the ladder-leaders Mooroopna Golf were pipped at the post by a fighting Numurkah crew.
Mooroopna Golf claimed the first rink by just one shot, and the neck-and-neck bout continued as Numurkah edged out the minor premiers, also by one shot, on the second rink.
In the final rink however, it was Numurkah that took the game by the scruff of the neck.
The Donald Woolley-led final stand saw Numurkah claim a four-shot win, etching its name into the history books with a 14-55 to 2-51 thriller.
In division four, Dookie would only win one of three rinks played, but its second rink domination would sew up an underdog victory.
The third-placed Dookie played minor premiers Shepparton Park and while it lost the first rink 24-23 and rink three 18-16, rink two was a landslide in its favour 12-27, the final result falling 4-54 to 12-66.
While all underdog stories in their own right, none matched the premier pennant Euroa win until division five’s results came through - and it may have been the biggest boilover of them all.
Eildon boasted an unbeaten record through the course of the season and rolled by Seymour in the qualifying final to assume its spot in the decider.
The minor premier seemed untouchable.
But Nagambie was unfazed.
Surging from fourth on the division five ladder, Nagambie knocked off Seymour VRI, Seymour and then sweeped up Eildon in the grand final 14-42 to 0-29 to stun the would-be-invincibles.
News photographer Rechelle Zammit was at the division four midweek grand final and captured Dookie go for gold.
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