The season looks to have ended for a couple of teams following the penultimate round of Sunraysia Hearing Clinic Pennant Bowls.
Out at the Hawks nest, Merbein put paid to Red Cliffs run for the finals and gave them a spanking, taking an all-rinks victory 101 shots to 57.
Eric Watson got over Keith Sharman 33 to 18. David Gray continued his rink’s good season 34 to 19 over Brendan Cockfield and David Maude knocked Bill Allen around 34 to 20.
Red Cliffs can be pretty pleased with their efforts this season as to most observers they have performed above expectations.
For the Hawks it is probably a case of too late she cried, and they will rue the mid season slumps that have cost them dearly over the last two seasons.
At the Cauldron, the Irymple Suns and Mildura Magic met in a top of the table clash.
In spite of talk of a dead rubber and a free hit for these sides the game was best summed up by Peter Harrison from Mildura who said no one out there on the green wanted to lose the match and so it proved a hard fought contest.
The Suns took the honours and collected an all-rinks win 76 shots to 62 in their second defeat of Mildura for the season. Steve Carn got over Mark Eckel 27 to 22. Brendan O’Brien 22 to 17 over Neville Hodgetts with Peter Briggs having a big game. Ivan Behsmann had the best of Peter Harrison 27 to 23.
There was little between the teams at the halfway mark with Mildura having a four shot advantage. Following the break the Suns came home with a wet sail, and with support from vocal supporters, banged another nail into the coffin.
The Euston Bandits did enough in their clash with Coomealla to take 10 points and a firm hold on fourth. Wayne Gardner’s rink certainly had its act together this week and recorded a very strong win. Gardner was back to some of his best form.
Jamie Shields also got over the line but Sandy Tarrant was clapped in irons and recorded a rare loss. The Bandits sit six shots clear in fourth and just need to secure two rinks next week against the hapless Wentworth Steamers to hold fourth.
Coomealla Cannons have had a roller coaster season. They have a solid squad of players and continue to develop. Expect them to give the competition a shake next year.
In the final match of Division One, the Ouyen Blues were at home to Wentworth and saluted to the tune of 10 points and 75 shots to the Steamers two points and 53 shots.
Neville Jay beat Sid Walters 30 to 17. Norm Latta gave Neil Randall a lesson 29 to 15. Harold White was back in the skip’s chair for the Steamers and snuck home over Rob Jay 21 to 16.
Ouyen have been up and about since the Christmas break but, like Merbein, it will prove too little too late.
The ladder has Mildura on top with 146, Irymple 142, Workers 109, Euston 94, then follows Ouyen 86, Merbein 85, Red Cliffs 83, Coomealla 62 and Wentworth on 8 points.
In Division Two Workers Gold copped a bit of a fright but managed to get over the line 10 points and 65 shots to Euston two points and 61 shots.
Workers would have expected better but Euston’s Lindsay Lynch has been bowling the house down in recent weeks and knocking on the door for a recall to Division 1.
Mildura and Workers Green had a crack-a-jack game with them being unable to be separated on 75 shots apiece.
Mildura collected seven points with the Greens gaining five points. Kevin Knight had a solid win for Mildura with Rex “The Beast” Eastwood pulling one off for the Green.
Nangiloc got back on track, but only just, as they took all 12 points over Merbein in a torrid affair 78 shots to 73.
Alan Minter Owen Giddings and David Goldup steered each of their rinks home. The Hawks were close but didn’t have quite enough in the tank. Nangiloc will need to grow another leg to be competitive in their finals run.
Underbool and Red Cliffs had pride to play for and had a ripping game down at the ’bool. The home side got 10 points amassing 75 shots to the Tigers’ two points and 68 shots.
Col Lockett performed well at skip in his first effort for Underbool. Howard Crothers and Steve Simmons both recorded wins.
Underbool is another side that has suffered from inconsistency and an inability to string a couple of wins together. The Tigers were knocking on the door early but have fallen away in the latter half of the season.
The Division Two ladder has Irymple at the top on 124, Workers Gold on 120, Mildura on 112 points. Nangiloc follow on 99 rounding out the four. Then Red Cliffs 80, Workers Green 76 trailed by Euston 69, Underbool 56 and Merbein on 32 points.
In Division Three the Irymple Plovers put an end to Workers tilt at the four by getting 10 points and 84 shots against Workers 2 and 57 shots.
John Doherty’s rink continued its good form with a 29 shot win for the Plovers.
Ouyen have secured their finals campaign with an all-rink pasting of the Wentworth Steamers 110 shots to 54.
The Irymple Swallows bagged 8 points and 70 shots putting a dent in Mildura’s hopes who managed 4 points and 67 shots. Rinks were up and down with Henk Van Wegan scoring a solid win for the Swallows.
Coomealla handed out a flogging to Euston picking up 12 points and 100 shots to the Bandits 59 shots. David Doering had a big win for the Cannons.
The Division Three ladder is topped by the Plovers on 153, Mildura on 126 with the Swallows on their heels with 126 points and Ouyen rounding out the four on 117 points. Workers follow on 99 and then Coomealla 96, Euston 61 and Wentworth 52.
This article appeared in Tuesday's Sunraysia Daily 7/2/2012.
Email a friend