Invermay ready to roll on replacement greens

INVERMAY will officially open their new synthetic green this coming Saturday with City of Ballarat mayor Cr Des Hudson to attend the official proceedings.

The club were severely affected by the heavy rains in early January this year that resulted in their old green being unplayable and requiring a new greens surface to be laid.

“It was pleasing that we were able to get the new green in place within the year and I am extremely grateful to the Ballarat clubs that we played in the first part of the season who allowed us to swap our earlier games whilst works to complete the new surface were still underway,” said club president Rod McDonald.

“Midlands Bowling Club allowed us to practice using their greens during this period for which we are also very appreciative of.”

This weekend both Invermay’s Ballarat Highlands Bowls Region Saturday Pennant sides play at home with their Division 3 to take on Buninyong while the Division 7 team will play Ballarat East.

“It’s been a very even competition in Saturday’s Division 3 this season and we managed to have a couple of wins over good teams which has helped us to be in the four at this time” McDonald said.

A win over Buninyong will help the side retain a spot in the four as they are only slightly ahead of BMS by two points and Beaufort eight, with all three teams on four wins so far and vying for a place in the final four.

“We have had a number of new bowlers join the club this season which has ramped things up a bit and all together we now have 58 playing and social members which is great for the club,” McDonald said.

“This has enabled us to enter a further side in the Tuesday Pennant competition with our club now fielding teams in divisions 3 and 5.”

Invermay’s Tuesday Pennant Division 3 side is a tight contest with City Oval and Midlands to retain a position in the top half of the ladder and the opportunity to play finals later in the season.

In the Region’s Novice Mens’ Singles Championship new bowlers Steve Riley and Jason Gigliotti both played and competed well with Steve Riley going through to play in the final where he narrowly lost by three shots to City Oval’s Joel Clark who took out the region title.

With both Saturday Pennant teams playing at home in Invermay this Saturday the club will be holding their Christmas roast dinner after the matches where much festive cheer will be shared amongst club members.

– BY ANTHONY McCABE