Sport
7 March, 2025
Minor premiers out, Dunolly and Golf advance
Dunolly Blue and Maryborough Golf have upset the minor premiers, each advancing to tomorrow’s grand finals.
DIVISION ONE
Dunolly Blue have avenged last season’s grand final loss, defeating Highland Tartan 60-54 in another gripping contest between the two sides.
Both teams were on top form immediately, but Dunolly Blue had the upper hand, leading 33-27 at the halfway point with each team in control of one rink and Dunolly Blue in a slight lead in the final rink.
Despite Highland Tartan’s efforts to reduce the gap and keep their chances of a four-peat alive, Dunolly Blue proved too good, maintaining that six-point gap until the end of the match.
While Garry Coburn was excellent in a commanding 27-14 victory over Alan Weir, Peter Waters and Tony Galofaro wiped that advantage away, with Waters defeating Zac Stewart 23-11 and Galofaro prevailing over Gregory Shay 23-16.
Maryborough Golf Blue awaits Dunolly Blue in the fight for the crown, a contest that has all the earmarks for an incredibly tight final.
Only four points separated the two sides in the regular season, and while Golf Blue finished ahead of Dunolly Blue to gain the double chance, Dunolly Blue had more shots for in the regular season and conceded the least amount of shots in the competition.
The regular season series was split with one win apiece, with Dunolly Blue winning in round four 69-52 while Golf Blue triumphed in round 14 by only two shots 56-54.
DIVISION TWO
After going through the regular season undefeated, Newstead Blue have been knocked out in straight sets, with Maryborough Golf vanquishing the minor premiers 67-48.
Golf assumed control of the match quickly and continued to build as the game wore on, holding a 36-28 lead after 35 ends.
Newstead Blue gave it their all, reducing the gap in two rinks, but Golf pulled away, completing a remarkable feat of having a team in every Goldfields Playing Area grand final this season.
Harold Patullo did most of the damage for Maryborough Golf, defeating David Cobden 25-10 while Kort Gay held off Bernie Gervasoni for a 24-20 victory and Ross Andrews drew with Brian Daly 18-18.
Maryborough Golf has one more hurdle to clear on their quest to become division two champions, but it certainly is an almighty hurdle as they take on Carisbrook in the season finale.
These two teams are very familiar with each other in a finals setting as Carisbrook defeated Golf in the semi-final last season before they were bounced by Talbot in the preliminary final.
Carisbrook seems to have Golf’s number this season as well, in their only meeting back in round seven, Carisbrook prevailed 61-45.
Despite that, Maryborough Golf will be confident they can enact some revenge on the biggest stage, peaking at just the right time on their quest for ultimate glory.