By Chris Mitchell
THE Sunraysia Bowls Association’s 2024-25 season has manufactured more moves by players than in a standard chess contest.
The big winner has been the Irymple Bowls Club with up to five players signing with the Suns.
They include Terry Bourke, Mick Legin and Darren Cordwell from Workers and David Gray and Graham Newey from Merbein.
The Sun’s have lost two Murray Mallee Regional Bowls team representatives in Tanner Dickson-Arthur, who has transferred with work and Tom Hogan, who has opted to take some family leave and is on the out list.
Rob Hogan will also be missing in action as he recovers from surgery.
The Sun’s chairman of selectors, Wayne Gardner, will have his hands full rebuilding the Division One side as they prepare to defend their premiership title but with the list of recruits to choose from that should not be an onerous task.
Euston Bowls Club have stolen the march with the signing of nine-time Australian Indoor Singles Champion Steve Glasson who will be on the job Skipping in Division 4 for round one.
It’s a big coup for the Bandits.
Back on the south side of the river Mildura have signed Jayden Taylor and Rod Taylor from the Coomealla Cannons, along with Ron O’Neil from the Sturt Bowling Club in Adelaide.
O’Neil has already demonstrated his capabilities with a win in the Sunraysia Over 60 pairs.
Dennis Lloyd has transferred from the Belconnen BC in Canberra and new member Bernard McCarthy has returned to bowls, formally having played bowls in Melbourne, where he was a club singles champion.
Glenn Sica has resigned after a sabbatical with Merbein and Ken Hayes has returned to the Magic after a stint with Workers.
Chief wizard Mark Eckel has been working closely with the selection team trialling different combinations in recent weeks.
The Magic should be a solid unit this year and will be looking to regain the mantle of premier club in Sunraysia.
Next door Workers Bowling Club have lost a number of players this season and will be looking to rebuild their top side.
While there have been no significant signings, the Workers have always been a club that builds from within and will be looking to grow the mantle of the green and gold.
Merbein have also lost players from their top side which performed creditably last season.
They blooded Laurie McLaine and Jack Anderson into skipping roles, signalling a changing of the guard but will need to be able to draw from their reserves to fill the shoes of Gray and Newey both solid Division One performers.
Ouyen started their campaign last year with several big scalps early and looked to be challenging as the big improvers leading into the second half of the season.
Injuries to players like Allan Crook, as well as player unavailability, damaged the Two Blues chances as they limped home.
This year with a full list, Ouyen will be keen to stamp their authority on the competition and contest finals in February.
Red Cliffs return to Division One after a stint in Division Two and will be keen to press their place.
Club president Maurie Press along with Michael Clifford will be keen to see the squad up and about.
The squad has the nucleus of a solid side so early performances will be a strong indicator as to where the Tigers finish come finals time.
Nangiloc have made solid strides with the signing of scratch golfer Jayden McManus and hopes are high as most golfers transition into bowls with a really strong understanding of line and length.
Jamie Forte has listed McManus as a potential high achiever so we look forward to watching his development and the Loc will be hunting hard for a Division Two flag this year.
When it comes to individual performances in the Champion of Champions events in 2023-24 Darren Kerslake saluted the crowd with an impressive singles win and Toby Moore and Ben Mansell took ownership of the Champion of Champions Pairs.
Wentworth have completed the coup d’etat with the signing of Division One player Colin Sherriff.
Sherriff has taken the decision to move camp, after 12 years as a resolute servant to the Irymple BC and many club members are up beat as they build their march to pennant prominence in 2024-25.
Underbool continues to build from within, and high hopes are being placed on newcomer Jack Pryse.
Play in the Sunraysia Bowls Association’s Saturday Pennant gets underway this weekend, with Midweek Pennant action stating up on Monday, 7 October.
The comps will break in the middle of December for about a month, with finals set to get underway from mid-February.
