Eager to be back on the greens
Bowls is back. It has been almost a month since Goulburn Valley Bowls Division weekend pennant was last played, so district bowlers will be itching to get back out on the green today and fight for finals positions.
Only six matches remain in the regular season, so every point will be crucial if teams are to reach the knockout rounds.
Although the Shepparton Golf and Kyabram blockbuster will draw plenty of attention in division one today, it is in the other matches where overall importance lies.
Stanhope hosts Shepparton Park in what could be seen as almost an elimination final.
Last time the two met, Parkers snared victory — just one of two for the season to date — and will be looking to do the same again today.
But Stanhope, which is 23 points behind fourth position, must perform well to keep hopes of postseason action alive.
At Nagambie, the Lakers will be trying to start the second stanza of their campaign on better terms than the first finished after losing to Seymour for the second time.
Hill Top will also have redemption on its mind after a one-shot loss to the Parkers before the festive break and could jump into fourth spot, which the Lakers occupy, with a win away from home today.
Rod Madill steps up to skip for the Hillbillies and will be keen to stamp his authority on the match.
The final round nine match is a danger game for ladder-leader East Shepparton.
Seymour has been a tough side to defeat, especially on its home surface, and will host East in an attempt to turn around round two’s seven-shot loss at their Zurcas Lane facility.