Favourites fall in first finals round

BUNGAREE had a strong win over top Division Two side Clunes in their Ballarat-Highlands Bowls Region Saturday Pennant semi-final last weekend.

Clunes went into the post season as strong favourites having played the whole summer with only one loss.

While both teams had two winning rinks, it was Bungaree’s Peter Spratling that had a decisive 19 shot win that catapulted his side directly into the grand final where they will meet the winners from next Saturday’s preliminary final game between Clunes and Daylesford.

Bungaree’s Jayson Frawley said his club’s top side has done well in the Ballarat competition over the years.

“We they started seven years ago in Division 7, and have played in finals for six out of the seven years since the club was formed,” he said.

“We are now positioned to play for a flag in the Division 2 competition which is a great achievement in a short space of time.”

In the second Division 2 semi-final played at Smeaton, Daylesford had a comfortable win over BMS, winning two rinks and getting a draw on the third.

It was Daylesford’s Pat Torpey’s rink with their 17-shot win over Jeff Ryan that secured the victory and eliminated the BMS from the finals.

“We had a handy lead earlier and found the Smeaton green played well and was to our liking, so it made it harder for the opposition to peg back our earlier lead as the game progressed” said Daylesford’s Winston Silbereisen.

Meanwhile Bungaree’s Division 5 squad, which finished the season in top spot, in what was a very tight competition, lost to City Oval and will take their second chance against BMS next Saturday.

BMS’ Pam Walker said their Division 5 side played very well against a strong opposition and, “our players all bowled well and everybody did their bit that got us the win with three of our rinks up for the afternoons play.”

Semi-finals results – Premier Division played at City Oval – Sebastopol 14 defeated Victoria 2 (Sebastopol to grand final), Buninyong 1 lost to Webbcona 15. Division 1 played at Webbcona – City Oval 4 lost to Smeaton 14 (Smeaton to grand final), Victoria 2 lost to Midlands 16. Division 2 played at Smeaton – Clunes 4 lost to Bungaree 14 (Bungaree to grand final), BMS 3 lost to Daylesford 15. Division 3 played at Sebastopol – Ballan 14 defeated Linton 4 (Ballan to grand final), Victoria 18 points defeated Learmonth 0. Division 4 played at Ballarat – Mt Xavier 16 defeated City Oval 2 (Mt Xavier to grand final), Victoria 1 lost to Sebastopol 17. Division 5 played at Learmonth – Bungaree 0 lost to City Oval 18 (City Oval to grand final), BMS 16 defeated Smeaton 2. Division 6 played at Midlands – Clunes 16 defeated Central Wendouree 2 (Clunes to grand final), Victoria 4 lost to Linton 14. Division 7 played at Mt Xavier – Ballan 18 defeated City Oval 0 (Ballan to grand final), Ballarat East 16 defeated Ballarat North 2. Division 8 played at Victoria – Clunes 2 lost to Learmonth 12 points (Learmonth to grand final), Daylesford 0 lost to Sebastopol 14 points.

Saturday, 19 March preliminary finals – Premier Division – Victoria v Webbcona at City Oval. Division 1 – City Oval v Midlands at Webbcona. Division 2 – Clunes v Daylesford at Ballarat. Division 3 – Linton v Victoria at Sebastopol. Division 4 – City Oval v Sebastopol at Webbcona. Division 5 – Bungaree v BMS at Buninyong. Division 6 – Central Wendouree v Linton at Sebastopol. Division 7 – City Oval v Ballarat East at Victoria. Division 8 – Clunes v Sebastopol at Ballarat.

 

– BY ANTHONY McCABE