IF the Coomealla Cannons win the Sunraysia Saturday Pennant Division 4 grand final next weekend, it will mark the first time the club has had a team go back-to-back in a final in 75 years, following a win last year.
The team’s skip Harold Bradley, a lifelong country sportsman, retired from most competitions in 2019.
But in mid-2023 a group of self-professed “misfit bowlers” asked if he would join a team they were building, which would go on to become the victors of the 2023/2024 season.
“I was sitting on the sidelines after playing bowls for so long and it didn’t go down very well with me, it was a bit hard to watch, so getting back into it has been very good,” he said.
Bradley credited the strength of the relationship between players and club members to the team’s success, which has seen them through to the grand finals for the second year in a row.
“The camaraderie between the club is very good, as far as I’m concerned you couldn’t get much better,” he said.
“We’ve played together for a fair while now, you know exactly what other people can do, what bowls they can play.
“I think we’ve got every chance of making it through the grand final as well.”
Recent installation of a pacemaker lead to Bradley taking a fortnight off lawn bowls, only receiving the all-clear from his cardiologist the week of the semi-finals.
“It’s made a hell of a difference for me, especially physically, I’m not as tired now as I used to be,” he said.
Bradley’s daughter Noelene described the team as an inspiration on how to live life to its fullest.
“Giving, sharing, and believing in each other, the amazing bond that this team of misfits has developed just gives me goosebumps,” she said.
The Coomealla Cannons will play against the winners of the preliminary finals, which will be determined this weekend.
