North takes all in first twos outing

A DELIGHTED Ballarat North president Scott Platter celebrated a return to Ballarat District Bowls Division Saturday Pennant after all three Division two teams came home with strong wins over BMS.

The club’s squad had a commanding 31 shot victory, with Col Thompson’s rink leading the way 23 shots up and Platters own rink having a solid 12-shot win.

The results gave North 14 points for the day and placed them in second position behind Daylesford on the Division 2 ladder.

Platter said games against BMS were always a great challenge with both sides regularly competing in the finals in recent times. The two clubs have developed a great friendly rivalry and wins in each contest were keenly sought.

This season Ballarat North has introduced a couple of new players who have shored up the strength of the side which Platter said will help them in their quest for finals success at season’s end.

In Division 5 the second Ballarat North team had a strong win of 62 shots over Beaufort, gaining 18 points with all rinks up on the day and leading the ladder after the first game.

North’s Division 8 side also had a strong 18 shot win over Ballarat East and got full points on the day, putting them second from Midlands, who had a strong win in their game against Daylesford.

BMS president Kevin McLean was upbeat with the club’s prospects for the coming season having attracted intrastate and interstate bowlers into the fold as well as a number of keen new members taking on the game this year.

McLean noted the BMS’ Premier Division and Division 4 sides had good wins against their respective Victoria competitors – a hard team to overcome on their own turf.

BMS Premier skippers Ryan Bedggood and Phil Clamp lead the way with strong performances scoring 15 and 7 shots up respectively, and for Victoria’s Craig Ford’s rink performed well with 7 shots up.

The Premier BMS side start their season in top position on the ladder with equal points with the Learmonth and Sebastopol but commanding a good percentage win.

BMS division 7 side had a comfortable win of 22 shots over Webconna, while the club’s new entry in Division 8 lost to a strong Bungaree team.

Click here for full BDBA Saturday Pennant round 1 results. 

 

– BY ANTHONY MCCABE