Bowls to play through cool weather

THIS weekend is set to provide Ballarat’s bowlers with another cool day to play through.

Last weekend most clubs in the competition managed to complete their matches as the forecast rains were not as heavy as predicted.

The Webbcona club is looking for good weather and a strong performance across their divisional sides as they compete to earn a position in one of the top four positions.

Presently the club’s Division 5 side is performing strongly, being second on the ladder after a strong result last week at Midlands where it managed to have three of its four rinks up.

It will need to retain that form when it hosts City Oval. Both clubs have had a good start to the season, with Webbcona on four wins and City Oval just one game away, with Smeaton heading the ladder only a narrow two points ahead of Webbcona.

City Oval will go into the game in good form after last week’s win where they hosted Bungaree. Ken Birch’s rink, with an 18-shot win, helped the home side to victory.

“Our Division 5 and 6 sides are really going well at the moment,” club president Craig Wells said.

“As well, our other teams are in contention with the four and each week are performing better.

“We have gained a number of new bowlers into our Division 9 side with some coming through from last season’s Corporate Cup competition.

“This has been terrific for the club and will help develop our sides into the future.

“Our social program is well received, with our monthly dinners having a strong following, and our recent trivia night was a great success for the club.”

Webbcona’s Division 6 side will be travelling to Smeaton and can expect to be challenged where they play off against the ladder leaders, who have dipped out only once so far this season.

The visitors, however, will come with confidence after last week’s home game against Waubra where they managed to have all rinks up and a particularly strong performance with Tony Hendy’s rink.

The club’s Division 1 side will be travelling to Mount Xavier on Saturday and will need to regain their season’s earlier form to secure a win to regain a spot in the top four.

Last week’s loss at home to the competition’s leading side, Sebastopol, saw them slip out of the four into sixth position while Midlands’ win over BMS has seen the recently promoted side gain the honour of making the four.

The club’s Division 8 and 9 sides are currently placed sixth and will need to continue last week’s winning form to overcome the Sebastopol and Daylesford sides respectively to stay in contention with the higher placed sides.

Webbcona’s Division 8 side finished off their game strongly last week to take the win over BMS, with Andrew Ottini’s rink gaining the shots to see their side through to the win.