Hawks salute century with pair of flags

CITY Oval celebrated their 100-year anniversary, claiming the Division 1 and 5 Ballarat-Highlands Bowls Region Saturday Pennant titles last weekend.

The dual flags complimented the club’s Tuesday Pennant Premier Division flag from five days prior.

“It’s been a great year for the club” said City Oval’s Ian Robinson. “Out of the 10 teams our club fields in both the Saturday and Tuesday pennant nine made the finals.

“We managed to secure the Division 1 premiership by starting out strongly winning shots in the early stages of the game and went on to maintain the lead for the rest of the afternoon.

“Towards the end our lead was around 30 shots before dropping a few shots in the final ends and finishing off the game with a 21-shot win, 85 shots to 64.

“We had the momentum throughout the game and I consider the experience of our side showed through.”

City Oval had three rinks up with the Gavin Mann lead squad having a strong 18-shot gain, and the Smeaton rink of James Taylor the only one managing to have a win.

The Division 5 final was played at the Buninyong and saw City Oval get over BMS by 20 shots.

A highlight was City Oval’s 96-year-old veteran Dennis Holman who lead for David Murphy’s rink and won his first grand final medal after playing in several previously.

The Hawks had three rinks up with only Larry Wilson’s BMS squad managing to secure a single shot win.

Mount Xavier’s Division 4 side had a strong 34 shot win – 94 shots to 60 to take the premiership over City Oval.

The Division 2 grand final between Clunes and Bungaree was played at Webbcona with former having a comfortable 28 shot victory – 89 shots to 61.

“Brad Keen’s rink won by 15 shots and had control of the whole game, as did Geoff Annear’s rink which won by 13 shots which put us in the position to go on for the win overall,” said Clunes’ Mark Vorback.

Bungaree rink of Only the rink of Tony Trigg managed four-shot a win.

While the Division 6 and 8 Clunes sides finished on top of the ladder after the home and away season, both succumbed to Linton and Learmonth respectively in their grand finals.

It was a nail biter in the Division 7 with required extra ends needed to determine the final result Ballarat East eventually getting a three-shot win over Ballan, which had played through the whole season undefeated until the grand final.

Ballarat East’s Tony Driscoll rink had a nine shot win and played a pivotal role in securing the victory.

Ballan however did manage to get a premiership in Division 3 where they accounted for Victoria.

Ballan’s rink skippered by State bowler Anne Draffen ended with 25 shots up and although Victoria’s Stephen Britt foursome managed to go 24 shots up it was not enough to offset the overall deficit.

In the Premiership Division played at City Oval Bowling Club, Webbcona had a good win over their Sebastopol opposition and claimed their first Premiers’ flag in 16 years.

Ben McArthur rink had strong 13 shot win over Rob Baker, playing an influential part in securing the top-level flag.

Gary Johnson’s squad had a five-shot win while Matthew Blackburn drew 20 shots each with Sebastopol’s Scott Robert.

It was a massive win for Webconna, with the team having only qualified to play finals following a strong win in their last game of the regular season.

 

– BY ANTHONY McCABE