Heathcote fights to stay in bowls race

HEATHCOTE’S division three team will fight to stay in the premiership race on Saturday when it plays Woodbury in the Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields weekend pennant preliminary final.

The Saints will be on the rebound from a six-shot loss to Marong in the second semi-final played on Eaglehawk’s greens.

It was not an ideal start to Heathcote’s finals campaign as the ladder-leading division three team was beaten and division six was eliminated by North Bendigo.

First to qualify for the division three grand final was Marong as it marked a  14-76 to 4-70 victory against Heathcote in the second semi-final.

Best result for the Saints was an 18-12 win by Adam Luxford’s rink against Brian Rumbold.

Luxford won four of the first five ends and held a four-shot buffer by the 11^th end.

Although beaten on the last four ends, Luxford won by six shots.

Chris Morcom’s rink had an even start and trailled by a shot on the 12^th end.

The Saints surged to an eight-shot lead after 14 ends, but was beaten on the next six ends.

After the final bowl, Morcom led 19-16.

Maurice Lee made a slow start and was beaten on the opening five ends by Brian Girvan.

The Saints struck back to win four of the last five ends as Girvan claimed a 20-19 victory.

Bill Gardiner made an even start against Stephen Knight to be down by a shot after 10 ends.

From there it was Knight’s rink which ruled on its way to a 28-14 victory.

Saturday’s preliminary final between Heathcote and Woodbury starts at 1.30pm on Golden Square’s greens.

When they met in round 14 it was Woodbury which won 16-76 to 2-70 at Heathcote.

In division six action, Heathcote’s run was ended by North Bendigo at White Hills.

The Bulldogs won all three rinks in a 74-44 result.

Lorraine Speirs had an even start and led by a shot by the 12th end against Zach Burchell.

The Saints won just two more ends in a 17-24 loss.

Brian Berger’s rink was level with John Emerson after the 11^th and 13^th ends.

Heathcote won just two more ends as the Bulldogs claimed a 19-14 victory.

Denis Kilner’s rink faced an 18-shot deficit after 10 ends against Sharon Bryan.

Ends and shots were then shared as the red, white and blue rolled on to a 31-13 win.

Heathcote’s Invitation Fours Tournament  was played on Sunday.

The IGA-sponsored event drew 10 teams which included players from Colbinabbin, Woodbury, Serpentine, Bendigo East ,Rushworth and Elmore.

Winners after four games were M. Lord (s), G. Ryan, S. Lord and J. Ryan from Bendigo East.

The Elmore-Serpentine crew of K. Wills (s), W. Billett, F. Maher and M. Matthews was runner-up.