BRETT Mahoney has returned to Webbcona as a new bowler.
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When Mahoney lines up against Avenue in Ballarat Geelong Premier Division action on Saturday, he will carry the mantle of being an Australian Champion of Champion pairs silver medallist.
The 27-year-old came agonisingly close to taking his first national title after he and pairs partner Bryce Young suffered a 19-12 loss to Queensland in Thursday’s three-bowl final at Taren Point Bowling Club.
Former Avenue bowler Young and Mahoney joined forces when the latter moved to Altona for a stint in the Melbourne premier division for season 2013-14.
“For myself and Bryce to get runners-up meant a lot,” Mahoney said. “It was a lot of work that involved winning the club, group and state titles.”
The duo entered the final full of confidence after securing respective eight, 10 and seven-shot wins over Northern Territory, New South Wales and Western Australia in the preliminary rounds on Wednesday and Thursday.
They drew level with Queensland pair Steven McNamee and Jason Andrewartha in the final on 10 shots after the first 10 ends, before skipper Andrewartha took control over the final eight ends.
Instead of being disappointed with the loss, Mahoney described it as a stepping stone to realising his dream of becoming part of the Victorian squad.
“We just said to one another that it’s just another game of bowls,” he said in wake of the loss.
Mahoney decided to return to Webbcona before the season due to travel costs from Ballarat to Altona.
His inclusion as skipper has bolstered a club decimated by key personnel losses in the past two seasons.
While Mahoney describes Webbcona’s start to the season as “tough”, he believes there is light at the end of the tunnel.
“We’ve lost a lot of players in the last three or four years, but we’re developing a lot of bowlers because of that,” he said. “I’ve been involved in coaching at the club level and I came back from Melbourne having learnt a lot more about the game than ever did in the past.”
Mahoney, who took up bowls as a 17-year-old, says the club’s objective is to avoid premier division relegation for the 2014-15 season.
Webbcona will host Avenue in a bottom-of-the-ladder clash on Saturday.
michael.pollock@fairfaxmedia.com.au