Sport
6 March, 2026
Highland Tartan adds another midweek crown with 68-50 win over Dunolly Blue
Highland Tartan has gone back-to-back-to-back in the Goldfields Playing Area midweek pennant, carrying an early surge into a victorious Grand Final over old foes Dunolly Blue 68-50.
With their third victory against Dunolly Blue in the space of four weeks, Tartan added to Highland’s division one and two weekend titles last Saturday.
Winning three out of a possible four Goldfields Playing Area premierships this season is an incredible achievement for Highland, which, according to Tartan team manager Garry Coburn, is a testament to the club’s dedicated depth.
“Premierships are very important, it moves the club along and keeps things rolling and it makes people realise when they are bowling there is always a chance to win a premiership,” he said.
“Our Highland Gold team didn’t think they were going to make the finals and they ended up getting into the preliminary finals in midweek. That was a great effort by them.”
Tuesday’s finale was the 11th time in 12 years these two teams collided for the midweek crown, with Dunolly Blue determined to deny a Tartan three-peat.
Neither team could generate a vital edge in the first 15 ends, with Tartan leading 12-11 with all rinks split by three shots or less.
Then suddenly, like a cheetah pouncing on its prey, Tartan proceeded to dominate the next 20 ends, expanding their once minuscule advantage to a whopping 17 shots, ahead 39-22.
Harvey Pearce and Coburn were the catalyst to Tartan’s turbo charge, with Pearce leading David Wardell 18-6 after 13 ends and Coburn ahead 14-5 over Chris Williams following 11 ends.
Tony Galofaro was attempting to keep Dunolly Blue within range as he held a narrow 11-7 advantage against Highland men’s club champion Greg Shay following 11 ends, but he desperately needed some teammate support.
After a few ends with little movement, Wardell answered the call, producing an astonishing last six ends where he outscored Pearce 9-2.
Despite Pearce holding on to win the rink 22-18, Wardell did a remarkable job clawing Dunolly Blue back to 59-46 after a combined 55 ends.
With Pearce and Wardell’s match in the books, Dunolly Blue’s Galofaro and Williams knew that perfection was required, needing to claw back 14 shots in eight ends to complete a memorable Grand Final comeback.
While Shay played well at the death to limit Galofaro to a 20-15 victory, Coburn finished with a flourish, scoring six shots in the last four ends to defeat Williams 31-12.
Matched up against a tough opponent who only lost twice during the regular season, Coburn commended his team’s consistency during the deciding rink.
“You just can’t underestimate Dunolly for one minute, you have got to keep getting bowls in the head because they are a very good side and a good club,” he said.
“You have to keep the pressure on them because once the pressure gets back onto you, anything could happen.
“When I drew Chris, I thought we were going to have to play really well because he’s a very good player.
“They were unlucky a lot of times, they went through gaps or kicked goals as we say, but to my team, it was a credit that they stuck at it.”