South East Coastal win Southern Zone Inter League Men’s Round Robin tournament in thrilling fashion

South East Coastal have claimed the Southern Zone Inter League Men’s Round Robin tournament in thrilling fashion, prevailing in a tense final game to win by half a rink on the final day in Gnowangerup this month. The tournament attracted just under 100 players across six leagues to Gnowangerup on January 8-10. Players from South East Coastal, Lower Great Southern, South Central Arunga, Great Southern, Central Stirling and Upper Great Southern took part in the three-day tournament. The victory for South East Coastal, made up of players from Esperance, Ravensthorpe, Hopetoun, Condingup and Scaddan, was their first in the competition since 1997. The champions were decided in the last game, with South East Coastal and Lower Great Southern both finishing on eight points. In the end there was only half a rink separating the two leagues, with South East Coastal winning on the last three ends. South East Coastal finished on 14.5 rinks wins to defeat Lower Great Southern on 14 rinks, while South Central Arunga (six points, 10.5 rinks) finished third. Great Southern had four points and 7.5 rinks to be fourth ahead of Central Stirling on two points and eight rinks, while Upper Great Southern also claimed two points and 5.5 rink wins. Several players were selected following the event to represent the Southern Bowling Zone in the Inter Zone Round Robin in Busselton on February 6 and 7. Meanwhile, Central Stirling’s Kevin Heberle was also presented with a special life membership honour at the event for his contributions to Bowls WA, his league and zone. Heberle has been on the country committee for 10 years, has been a president of zone in the past, held the secretary role at Gnowangerup Bowling Club for a number of years and is currently the umpire adviser for Central Stirling’s zone and league.