Bowlers fight to stay in title race

HEATHCOTE will fight to stay in the Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields bowls Division 2 premiership race when it plays Kangaroo Flat in Saturday’s preliminary final.

The Saints and Roos will clash on the Bendigo East greens in Lansell Street from 1.30pm.

The most recent hit-out between these teams was in round 12 at Heathcote where the Kangaroos romped to a 91-60 victory.

Heathcote could not halt Strathfieldsaye’s charge to a 93-64 victory in last Saturday’s second semi-final at Golden Square.

Scores were level at half-time, but the Kookaburras took control.

Chris Morcom 24 d R. Hayes 22, Maurice Lee 13 lt S. James 16, A. Luxford 16 lt B. Probert 18, Bill Gardiner 11 lt K. Toomey 37.

The Chris Morcom-skipped rink was level after 10 ends and scored six shots on the next end.

Although Strathfieldsaye won the last two ends, Morcom claimed a two-shot win.

In a low-scoring match, Maurice Lee’s rink was down by two shots after 11 ends.

Lee won two of the last three ends to cut the final margin to just three shots.

Adam Luxford’s rink won the first four ends, but then lost six of the next seven ends as the Kookaburras held a five-shot lead on the 11th end.

The Saints fought back strongly.

Despite scoring four shots on the last end, Luxford’s rink was defeated by two shots.

Bill Gardiner’s rink won six of the first seven ends to open up an eight-shot margin.

The Toomey-led rink from Strathfieldsaye then dominated play to win by 26 shots.

In the first semi played on adjacent greens at Golden Square, it was the Kangaroos who beat South Bendigo by 17 shots.

Heathcote Bowls Club’s singles championships were played last Sunday.

In the women’s final, Eileen O’Brien defeated Ilona Hutterer. The men’s championship was won by Peter Zander and Adam Luxford was runner-up.

A field of nine braved hot conditions on 11 February to play three games of pairs and triples.

Winners were Rod Hanson (s) and Chris Lawrance on three wins, 47 points, +44 shots.

Runners-up were Dave Thomas (s) and John Hepburn on one win, a draw, 28 points, +4 shots.

The jackpot was not won.

The grand final of Tuesday night social bowls was played last Tuesday.

The best pennant player vote count was held Thursday night.

More teams are urgently needed for the invitation fours tournament on Sunday 1 March at 10am.