Hawks flying high this season

LAST Saturday, City Oval’s Division 3 side hosted Invermay and had a comfortable twenty-one shot win in Ballarat Highlands Bowls Region Weekend Pennant action.

Ron Coxall’s foursome lead the way with 11 shots up and together with the winning rinks of John Peddlesden and Gary O’Neil, the home side added 16 points to secure the second position on the ladder.

“The club’s in a good position leading into the finals and it looks likely we will have seven of our Saturday and Tuesday pennant teams playing finals,” said City Oval’s Ian Robinson.

The win puts the Hawks Division 3 side behind Sebastopol and with the likelihood of a double chance in the post-season.

City Oval’s top team is in Division 2 and is similarly secure, just one point behind ladder leaders Midlands.

In what is a tight contest Smeaton and Ballarat North round out the four top positions and are likely to remain unless Clunes who travel to Central Wendouree record a strong win to displace either one of the teams if they are unable to get at least a couple of winning rinks.

Playing at home, City Oval’s Division 5 side had a comfortable win against Daylesford and again retained the second spot on the ladder with only James Grant’s rink giving the visitors 2 points and leaving them sixth on the ladder.

The Hawk’s Division 8 side had a loss at Sebastopol last weekend, but should retain its position within the four and play finals if it performs well at Webbcona this Saturday.

The Tuesday Pennant competition sees City Oval sides set for finals action with their Division 1 and 2 squads sitting pretty.

As the regular home and away season draws to a close, the final Weekend Pennant round kicks off on Friday night with Division 1 side Ballarat Bowling Club hosting BMS under lights.

The visiting BMS side need to keep on with their winning form under lights to retain their double chance in the finals.

Last Saturday night BMS hosted Sebastopol in a tightly fought battle with each side having two rinks up with the home side coming in with a narrow four shot victory.

Meanwhile, Webbcona in fifth place could challenge for a finals berth if they command a strong win at home this Saturday against Mt Xavier and the sides currently in the four perform badly in the last round.

– BY ANTHONY McCABE