BENDIGO Dragons have been crowned Victorian under-18 two bowl champions.
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The Dragons defeated the Diamond Valley Vipers 30-28 in a keenly contested final at Bendigo North Bowling Club.
Eight under-18 development teams from across Victoria contested the round-robin tournament, including the Ballarat Gold Diggers, Western Warriors, West Gippsland Lightning, Sandbelt Dolphins, Northern Flyers and Geelong Giants.
The Dragons advanced to the final by winning its section, as did the Vipers.
Bendigo has a proud record in the two bowl championship having won the tournament four years running until relinquishing the title briefly last year.
Kevin Nemeth, whose son Luke was part of the squad, said it was a wonderful effort by the Dragons.
"These kids are all young achievers, who are part of a close-knit group and played very well on the day," he said.
"The future of under-18 bowls in Bendigo is very bright."
The Dragons' achievement was made all the more spectacular by having to make do without one of their top players Amelia Bruggy.
The Bendigo club bowler was unavailable after playing the State Champions Week pairs two days earlier, where she and Andrew Brown finished as runners-up.
Vicki Greenwood and young division one bowler Steph Priest. managed the Dragons squad.