Things rolling along nicely at Midlands

A STRONG finish in the final two rounds will see Midlands Golf Bowling Club conclude the home and away season with four of its seven pennant sides likely to play Ballarat Highland Bowls Region finals.

“It’s been a good season overall for the club and things generally are going well,” said with club president Barry Wilson.

Last Saturday Midlands’ Division 5 hosted the Daylesford and while both sides each had two rinks up it was the Daylesford rink skippered by Dale Field with a strong 17-shot win which set up victory for the visitors.

Midlands’ Division 5 side are fourth on the ladder fourth with 163 and eight points separate third placed Victoria with 169 and Ballarat North on 161.

Midlands’ ability to win at home this Saturday against ladder leaders Sebastopol will play into the equation for finals as well as the outcome of the match between Victoria and Ballarat North in the final round.

Leading Midlands’ success is their Division 2 side which along with City Oval both have an 11-3 win loss record on the season are clear ladder leaders in the competition and should complete the season on top.

“We will have to battle hard at the game away at Clunes this Saturday and our last game at home against Ballarat East won’t be a walk in the park but if we can win through, we should retain the top position and have the double chance in the finals,” said Wilson.

The club’s Division 4 team side are going well being placed second behind Ballan who are clear leaders and with the remaining matches with BMS and Victoria should see the side finish with the double chance in the finals.

“We have had to rely on players from our Division 7 side to fill in for some of players in the higher divisions during the season who have been away and this depleted the team in some of their matches” Wilson said.

In Tuesday Pennant actions Midlands’ Division 1 and 3 teams are both placed fourth, with the final matches to be played next Tuesday at home against Buninyong and Daylesford.

Daylesford’s Winston Silbereisen is hopeful that the club’s Division 3 and 5 sides will win through to play finals.

“With our Division 3 side playing its last two matches at home against Bungaree and Beaufort gives us every chance to make the finals,” he said.

The side’s rink skipped by Barry Watson recorded a strong 29 shot win at Ballarat Bowling Club last Saturday helping Daylesford acquire the necessary points to remain in contention.

Daylesford’s Division 9 side heads up the competition having scored a good win away at Ballarat last Saturday and with next week’s game at Beaufort and the final game at home against Creswick the side is looking forward to a successful finals series.

“Our Club will be holding our Classic Fours Open tournament on 19th March and the Ladies Fours on 30th March which together with our social competition bowls sees things going well for the Club,” said Silbereisen.

In the competition’s top division the final two matches to be played by BMS as twilight matches, firstly a home match on Saturday against Sebastopol and in the final round the game at Ballarat Bowling Club to be played on Friday evening the performance of their players under lights will determine what is set to be a strong contest to fill the final two positions in the four with Webbcona challenging BMS and Ballarat for a chance for finals.

– BY ANTHONY McCABE