City Oval claim Monday Premiers’ flag

BY MARG WILKINS

 

THE grand finals of the Ballarat District Bowls Division Monday Pennant rolled into action in beautiful sunny conditions.

The Premier Division final was played at Central Wendouree Bowling Club between BMS and City Oval. BMS went in as ladder leaders for most of the season and started as favourites.

Very little separated the teams for the first few ends until BMS’ Ryan Bedggood’s rink picked up a five on the 11th end only to have Wayne Roberts score three shots the very next go.

By the end of the 15th BMS held a one-shot lead.

At the lunch break rinks skippered by Ian Robinson and Jenny Harman were tied, City Oval rink skippered by Roberts held a 13-shot lead over Bedggood.

The first end following the lunch break was a sign that the Diggers were on a mission as Bedggood’s rink scored a five to bring them within eight shots of the Hawks.

End 19 was another beneficial one for this rink as they scored three and were again within eight shots of City Oval.

City Oval gradually edged further in front with good consistent bowling and by the halfway mark held a commanding 12-shot overall lead.

The advance blew out further by end 57 to 15 shots.

BMS tried very hard and on my occasions were holding shot only to have it taken away by a superior City Oval team who went on to win by 11 shots to claim the premiership.

A large group of spectators were treated to a high standard game played in a great spirit.

Other premiership winners were Webbcona defeated Victoria, 64-57, in Division 1. Division 2 saw Smeaton get the win over Linton, 71-59. In Division 3 Victoria comprehensively beat Creswick, 101-39. And in Division 4 Bungaree were winners over Ballarat North by one-shot, 46-45.