THE Euston Bandits have stolen fourth spot in Round 15 of Sunraysia Hearing Clinic Pennant Bowls.
The pressure told on the Merbein Hawks who could only manage a drawn rink for the day.
Euston collected 11 points with 76 shots to the Hawks’ solitary point and 51 shots.
Wayne Gardiner had a solid return to the skips slot with a 21 all draw with David Gray.
Jamie Shields got over Eric Watson 23 to 16 and Sandy Tarrant cleaned up David Maude 32 to 14.
The win shoots the Bandits a game clear in fourth spot with their byes already completed.
Meanwhile, the Hawks still have a bye to come and will need to rely on Euston getting rolled over the final few rounds.
It wasn’t pretty at the Cauldron but the Suns ground out a win over a very determined Coomealla Cannons combination.
The Suns got up on all rinks 12 points and 68 shots to the Cannons 59 shots.
Steve Carn beat Brian Tyers 21 to 17 with Joe Pevitt having a strong second half.
Brendan O’Brien was again left with a lot to do but got the points 20 to 18 against Brandon Tyers.
Peter Briggs was O’Brien’s best performer. Ivan Behsmann saluted 27 to Ian Gibson 24.
The Cannons have definitely improved this season and have taken it right up to the top sides.
With further development of players like Daniel Gebert, Ian Gibson, Brian Tyers and Anthony Bath, they will be a force to be reckoned with.
The Red Cliffs Tigers did themselves no favours on the trip to Ouyen going down by 12 shots.
Ouyen picked up 11 points and 75 shots to the Tigers’ one point and 63 shots.
Rob Jay did the damage 28 to 18 against Keith Sharman.
Norm Latta outpointed Bill Allen 24 to 22 and a cigarette paper wouldn’t fit between Neville Jay and Brendan Cockfield 23 shots all.
The loss has the Tigers’ season up the proverbial creek as they have a bye to come and meet Euston and Merbein in the next two weeks.
There is no room for error as they will need to win both matches and hope Euston stumble.
Ouyen’s form is hard to fathom as inconsistency has cost them dearly this season.
Workers slotted home all 12 points 91 shots to 52 over the Wentworth Steamers.
Michael Legin’s rink was too strong for Sid Walters 37 to 13.
Neil McLean got the points 26 to 18 against a determined Rod Taylor.
Fred Bacon put last week behind him 28 to 21 over the Steamers’ Phil Newton.
Workers look to have consolidated in third position on the ladder.
They are only a game off second but have a bye to come.
The Steamers have the opportunity to shape the final four as they face Irymple and Euston in coming weeks.
The ladder has Mildura on top with 134, Irymple 118, Workers 109, Euston 82, Merbein 73 on percentage from Red Cliffs 73 then follows Ouyen 66, Coomealla 58 and Wentworth on eight points.
Division Two
In the Cureton Avenue clash, the Workers Gold side collected the points over their clubmates Workers Green 10 points and 76 shots to 2 points and 54 shots.
Alan Wilkins is having a very good season for the Golden boys.
Mildura travelled to Underbool but the home side couldn’t manage two wins in a row as they got rolled two points and 67 shots to Mildura’s 10 points and 86 shots.
Gary Smallman and Neil Stevens are leading by example for the Magic.
Top side Irymple Suns got a scare against Merbein on Saturday.
With the game transferred to the Hawks nest they almost pulled off the win but the Suns scrapped home 10 points and 72 shots to Merbein’s 70 shots.
Ron Dunn again performed well and Peter Bourn got over Merbein’s Rick Price.
Nangiloc put paid to Red Cliffs tilt for the finals with 10 points and 78 shots to the Tigers’ two points and 64 shots.
Owen Giddings had a very solid win which was almost matched by the Tigers’ Bill O’Rielly with a good victory.
Owen said the Rivermen had four out of their six oars in the water on the day.
The Division Two ladder looks settled with the final four decided.
Irymple sit on top on 122, Workers Gold on 110, Mildura on 108 points.
Nangiloc follow on 97 rounding out the four. Then come Red Cliffs 72, Workers Green 66 trailed by Euston 59, Underbool 56 and Merbein on 30 points.
Division Three
The finals race is heating up in third division with the ladder not yet finalised.
Coomealla weren’t able to match the Irymple Swallows as the Cannons could only muster two points and 66 shots to 10 points and 75 shots.
Ouyen’s thoughts of back-to-back flags copped a dent when they were snipped by Mildura 75 shots to 68.
Mildura harvested 11 points to Ouyen’s single point.
Irymple’s Plovers got 10 points with 80 shots against Euston two and 59.
John Doherty did the job for the Plovers and Lindsay Lynch held up a rink for the Bandits.
The Wentworth Steamers had all the wheels turning and got the laurels 8 points and 71 shots to Workers 4 points and 70 shots.
Wentworth’s Ian Smith was the hero with a very good rink win.
The Division 3 ladder is topped by the Plovers on 131, Mildura on 120, Swallows on 118 and Ouyen on 95 points. Workers follow on 85 and then a gap to Coomealla 70, Euston 51 and Wentworth 50.
This article appeared in Tuesday’s Sunraysia Daily 24/01/2012.
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