Things rolling along nicely in Invermay

MIDLANDS Bowling Club welcomed the New Year in good form, winning its Divisions one, three and five match ups, while the Division seven and eight sides went down narrowly in Ballarat District Bowls Division Saturday Pennant.

The club’s top side took a 14-shot win over Central Wendouree that places them in top position on the ladder.

David Speechley and Rodney Lock’s rinks had wins while the visiting side, skipped by Len Vincent and Anthony Gutteridge, also got the job done.

Speechley’s rink bowled brilliantly all day and held out Colin Johnson to give them a decisive 21-shot gain that assured Midlands the overall win for the afternoon.

A tight contest in Division 1 sees the four leading teams sharing a four/two win/loss season. Midlands heads the ladder on 68 points, ahead of City Oval, Victoria and Beaufort on 61 points.

Meanwile the club’s Division 3 side had a 15-shot win over Sebastopol placing them fourth on the ladder and the Division 5 squad got a 13-shot victory over Waubra meaning they sit second on the table, narrowly behind Ballarat North.

Midland club chair Brian Croft attributed the success so far this season to the addition of a synthetic green that has enabled bowlers to practice during the winter months, and the great work volunteers have put into the greens surrounds during the year that has resulted in their grass surface being in top condition.

The quality of the playing surfaces has enabled the club to attract the interest new bowlers to the game and meant an extra side in this year’s Saturday Pennant competition.

“Everything so far this season is going well and we look like things are shaping up to a good year for the club with Division 1 recording a couple of good away wins as the club heads in the right direction together with success in the other divisions also,” Croft said.

In other good news for the club, Midland’s Mick North and Brian and Jacob Croft are heading to Warrnambool this week to represent Ballarat/Central Victoria region in the 2019-2020 State Championships for the Men’s Triples competition. The event was been delayed from 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.

-BY ANTHONY MCCABE