Twilight bowls can’t be beaten at Smeaton

SMEATON Bowling Club held its first twilight pennant game for the season following last year’s success in hosting night matches.

The 2024 event was again a great success with supporters from both the home team, and visiting Clunes, coming along to enjoy a barbecue and an entertaining game of bowls for both the clubs’ top divisional sides.

“The green bowled well although as the sun set it became a bit dewy and the draw tightened up a bit so those who didn’t adjust to the changed conditions in the later part of the game got caught short,” said Smeaton’s David Toose.

“Nevertheless, it was all round a good game played in good spirits and for our club winning all rinks in the Division 2 game has enabled us the points to retain a handy margin ahead of the other teams outside the four.

“We are pleased where our club is positioned at the moment as all our pennant sides in both the Saturday and Tuesday competitions are in the four so we are hopeful for some finals action in the next month.

“Our Tuesday Pennant Division 2 side is having a good season and our teams in the Division 3 and 4 competition are also in the four and have every chance to be playing finals as well”.

With Midlands and Ballarat East heading up the Saturday Pennant Division 2 competition, Smeaton are comfortably positioned in third ahead of Victoria and 36 points ahead of Ballarat North who would be looking to challenge for a position in the four with only three games remaining.

In the coming week’s game the Smeaton will host the strong Ballarat East team and will need to ensure it finishes off well in the last two games for the season with dates on the road at Webbcona and Ballarat North to ensure retention of a position in the four to play finals next month.

In a close game last Saturday Smeaton’s Division 4 lost away to BMS and while retaining third position on the ladder.

The team will need to finish strongly to be part of the finals action.

The round 17 clash with Learmonth which will be played at Smeaton could turn out to be a decisive result for the composition of the four.

Learmonth’s other games, which it hosts against Creswick and BMS, provides the club the opportunity to take the points to edge out either Sebastopol or Smeaton from the four.

Smeaton’s Division 6 head up that competition on 185 points, ahead of Ballan on 174 points, with Waubra and Beaufort with BMS just 6 points short of the four.

In their last game for the home and away season Smeaton will host BMS who’ll hoping that a strong performance from them might give them an opportunity to displace the Beaufort side for a final four finish.

The Smeaton bowls club will be kept busy with a full program for the remaining season kicking off with Twilight Triples starting at 6.30pm on each Wednesday in February together with barefoot bowls scheduled from Friday 16 February.

The club will also conduct a corporate cup competition on 7, 14 and 21 March and for more details contact Smeaton’s tournament director Graeme Perry on 0408 783 466.

– ANTHONY McCABE