Gate finally opens for Moreton Bay

Moreton Bay Gateball Club has broken its drought and brought home a state pennants title.

After years of missing out to Southport, Moreton Bay won the Inter-Regional Pennants final at Rockhampton Mallet Sports Club.

Moreton Bay was equal on games, wins and win percentage of 66.7 against its Gold Coast rivals, but triumphed from highest gate point, with a difference of one.

The winning team, based at the Deception Bay Club, was captain Emma Mauceri, Warren Dowse, Kaelan Sweatman, Sue Scott, Darryl Porter and spare Margo Porter.

Moreton Bay won the Brisbane North Region Pennants, in February, beating Bribie Island, Eildon (Woody Point) and Pine Rivers to make the inter-regional competition.

It faced Southport (representing Gold Coast Tweed), Caloundra (Sunshine Coast) and Rockhampton (Central Queensland) over five days from April 28-May 2.

Moreton Bay has competed in many Queensland tournaments, with finals victories proving elusive – often finishing runners-up to Southport – until now!

It is three years since Redcliffe Gateball Club was renamed Moreton Bay. It’s greens at Deception Bay were used for bowls, but with interest dwindling had not been maintained.

Since 2020 Warren Dowse and Jeff Morris have re-established the lawns and with funding from Counsellor Sandra Ruck, Moreton Bay Regional Council and State Member for Bancroft Chris Whiting have bought a new mower and equipment.

Moreton Bay Gateball Club is based at Deception Bay Club, 32 Bayview Terr, where members play Doubles, Triples and Teams every Monday from 5.30pm.

Gateball started in Japan in 1947 and now has more than eight million players in 15 countries worldwide. There are no age limits.

Games are played in teams, triples, doubles or singles, using mallets, balls, gates and of course tactics.

The object is to get five balls through three gates and to a central pole. Each game lasts 30 minutes – leading to it being tagged the 20/20 version of croquet. A perfect score is 25.