Things looking good in Invermay Park

MIDLANDS bowls president Barry Wilson has said he’s pleased with the start to the season with the club’s top team competing in Division 2 of the Ballarat Highlands Bowls Region.

With the club’s second consecutive win on Saturday against Ballarat North, now Midlands go into a home match this coming weekend against City Oval with confidence.

“We have a few new players introduced this year in our top division side and overall the team seems to be gelling quite well at this early stage so we hope to look forward to a good season ahead,” Wilson said.

“Across all our pennant sides things are going well too with some new bowlers playing across the divisions helping to strengthen our overall club performance.

“The club has introduced a new design of pennant shirt and with the other improvements being done around the club and those which are planned for the future we are looking forward to the possibility of attracting more members into the game.

“We have introduced an additional team into the midweek competition which is great and I consider the Wednesday social bowls we can regularly play now we have a synthetic green that has helped our bowlers.”

Midlands now heads the Division 2 ladder with good wins by Gregory Plier’s rink of 14 shots together with Paul Kennedy’s foursome’s seven-shot win providing the overall victory of 11 for the afternoon.

Midlands’ Division 4 side hosted the strong Sebastopol team on Saturday with Sebas consolidating their leadership position winning three rinks and taking home 16 points for an overall 24-shot win.

The ‘Burra’s rink of Col Neve’s was 20 shots up followed by Peter Shaw’s 9-shot win assuring the team’s success in the afternoon’s play.

The Midland side will go into battle this coming Saturday at Central Wendouree with each side already having one win and both placed in the middle of the competition ladder at this early stage and can expect a tight contest away.

Ballarat North also hosted the Division 5 match against Midlands where the home side gained the upper hand taking out the match by 18 shots and scoring 16 points.

The result left leaving Midlands out of the top four, while Ballarat North’s two wins see them head the division ladder.

The decisive win by North’s rink skippered by Steve Feldman secured the home side win.

Midland’s Division 7 team enjoyed a comprehensive win at home against BMS with all rinks up and securing 35 shots up which places them just inside the four followed closely by Invermay and BMS.

The home side finished off strongly winning the final ends with the rink of Marg Doyle’s down the single shot on the 17th end going on to win the last four turns to finish with 10 shots up.

The side will need to maintain the momentum in another home match this coming weekend against the strong Ballarat East side who currently head the division ladder.

– ANTHONY McCABE