Saturday Pennant heads to post-season

VICTORIA Bowling Club president Allan Dennis has said he’s happy with the Big V’s success this season as the Ballarat-Highlands Bowls Region Saturday Pennant transitions into finals mode with the last home and away matches played on the weekend.

“We’re moving into the finals with a good presentation of teams competing,” he said.

“This includes Premiers, Divisions 2 and 4 in the Tuesday Pennant competition and Premiers, Divisions 1, 3, 4 and 6 in Saturday Pennant.”

Victoria’s Division 6 secured a strong home win in the final round against Midlands, up by 16 points and securing third place on the ladder.

Likewise, Linton at home game also had a good win earning 16 points and finishing off fourth with both teams seeing off any likelihood of a challenge from BMS who remained in fifth and two games short and 17 points out of contention.

Clunes and Central Wendouree are clear leaders in Division 6 with each team only having one and two losses respectively.

Back on Victoria Street the Big V’s John Berriman’s rink had a commanding win over Midland’s Peter Kelly.

Although the Midland’s rink of Andrew Peacock’s had a good 19-shot win, the margin was not sufficient to offset the losses incurred over the other three rinks.

The defeat means Midlands’ Division 6 side ends the season in eighth position with just two wins.

Also playing at Victoria Bowling Club on Saturday was Midland’s Division 3 squad, who also went down to the home team.

Only their rink skippered by Edward Harwood was able to get the job done, winning by 14 shots but against it was not enough overall.

Victoria’s Division 3 victory secured third position on the table heading into the post-season.

Midland’s president Richie Bissett said he was pleased that the Club’s Division 1 side had a strong win against Ballarat North at home, taking 17 points for the day and securing a finals berth in fourth position on the ladder and edging out Webbcona for finals action.

He was also happy with the club’s effort on and off the greens overall.

“Our Tuesday Pennant Premier Division side finished on top of the ladder and we are hopeful for success here as well,” he said.

“Last Sunday’s annual Gold Nugget tournament was a great success again for the Club with 20 entries competing.”

The father/ son combination of Brenton and Kevin Coad and their team were the day’s winners.

“The event was received well by everyone, and we intend to make it an invitation event in future years to expand the tournament,” Bissett said.

Victoria has also been running Bowls Australia’s “rookie roller” program for the last four Monday afternoons with students from St Alipius Parish School with the program aiming at its core designed to enable school children to participate in an engaging format, which is both fun and inclusive.

 

– BY ANTHONY McCABE