Kyabram finished the home-and-away season in third position, behind Tallygaroopna and Shepparton Golf, but comfortably ahead of fourth-ranked Shepparton Park.
The 50-pennant-point end-of-season difference had no impact on the result, Shepparton Park winning 100-86 (14-4).
The teams met in round one of the season when Shepparton Park had a two-shot win, both clubs winning two rinks apiece in a thrilling contest. When they met again, in round eight at Kyabram, the home side was a 12-shot winner — making it all square going into the weekend’s semi-final.
Josh Cartwright’s rink suffered the biggest loss, a 21-shot defeat at the hand of Shepparton Golf skip Paul Nichols.
The teenage skip, who is already a highly decorated bowler, had Robert Anset, Darren Boswood and the experienced Greg Shilling in support.
Cartwright, Shilling and Anset have been the team’s outstanding three bowlers — alongside Mal Williams — this season. All four are ranked inside the top 10 bowlers of the Division One competition this season.
They and Brent Reiner occupied five of the top 10 individual bowler rankings for season 2023-24.
The 13-34 loss could not be offset by the 14-shot win of Robert George, Noel Reddrop, Hayden Crilly and Henry Bosswood. Reiner won the other match, against Shepparton Park’s Jeff Boyle, by one shot with Williams, Jamie Stokes and Charlie Boswood as his lead bowlers.
On the remaining rink, in an unusually dark day for the Cartwright family, David Cartwright lost his match with Dennis Beck by eight shots (23-31). He was bowling with youngest son Jacob, John Hausler and David Townsend.
In the qualifying semi-final Tallygaroopna was a 97-81 winner against Shepparton Golf, which will now contest the preliminary final against Shepparton Park at Tatura Bowling Club on Saturday.
• Merrigum and Kyabram will contest the preliminary final of the Division Five weekend pennant competition at Shepparton Park Bowls Club on Saturday.
Kyabram was dominant in the elimination semi-final, beating Murchison 78-49 as it won all three rinks.
Ray Harrison combined with Stan McIntosh, Tom Polglaze and Howard Tonkin for a seven-shot win, while the 15-shot win of John Fanning (with Ray Guerra, Garry Salomons and Murray Boswood in support) rubber-stamped the win.
On the remaining rink, John Elliott beat Murchison’s Tony Martin 25-18.
A thrilling qualifying semi-final between top-of-the-ladder Colbinabbin and second-ranked Merrigum was decided by one shot — in favour of Colbinabbin.
The result came despite Merrigum’s John Firmer, Jim Arthur, Glenn Debham and Alan Dennis winning by 19 shots on their rink.
Colin Capes suffered a 15-shot defeat and Joe Chant was a five-shot loser on his rink.
Merrigum has won both their meetings this season. In round six, they beat Kyabram by eight shots when Joe Chant and John Firmer both had wins.
Only three weeks ago, Merrigum won by 25 shots, Chant particularly impressive with a 19-shot win and Firmer taking a seven-shot victory.
Ray Harrison was Kyabram’s only winner in that match.
Merrigum’s Greg Pell is the number-one ranked bowler in the division this season, just ahead of Chant, and with Dennis the other Merrigum bowler in the top 10.
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