YARRAVILLE-FOOTSCRAY and its home grown contingent has conquered the Bowls Victoria division 1.
Twelve months ago, the Combines were lamenting a finals series that got away.
They suffered an extra kick in the guts at the time, losing a large chunk of their team.
But Combines coach Wayne Roberts wouldn’t let it defeat his quest for a premiership that has eluded him in 35 years as a player.
Outsourcing was ditched in favour of promoting from within. Eight players who had previously been regular seconds players were thrust into the top side to good effect.
They meshed tremendously with the established stars, creating a divisional champion and earn promotion to the top-flight premier division.
“We were 19 home-grown players,” Combines second Ray Lawerson said. “We didn’t pay anyone — it was the little guys beating the big guys.”
This Combines crew will be remembered as the ‘side for all seasons’. They survived a cut-throat finals series in “rain, hail and shine”.
The early finals games were played in the midst of record temperatures at the hotter end of the scale.
Saturday’s grand final, an 84-61 victory over Burwood District at the Mulgrave Bowls Club, was played on a wet track as a cold snap hit.
The Combines claimed three of the four rinks, including Roberts (23-17), James Pearce (25-14) and Ray Coulter (21-13), with Alan Dove pipped 17-15 in a tight contest.
This was a title run that began on day one of preseason. They came as close to perfection as you can in one of the toughest divisions of bowls.
“We lost just two games and drew one in the whole season,” Lawerson said. “You play for so long, practice matches, games and finals; it’s a big season. We’re extremely happy and a bit relieved.”
The catalyst of the operation was undoubtedly Roberts. A hard task master, he knows how to get the best out of his players.
Meanwhile, Altona Sports went down 87-59 to Hurstbridge in the division 3 decider at Queen’s Park in Moonee Ponds. Sports will be promoted to division 2 next season.
