Saints bounced from bowls finals

HEATHCOTE’S run in division two weekend pennant bowls was ended in a 14-shot loss to Kangaroo Flat in last Saturday’s preliminary finals.

Division three premier last season, Heathcote made a meteoric rise to be top of the ladder at the end of the home-and-away series.

The Saints fought to qualify for the grand final when they played the Kangaroos on the Bendigo East greens.

Heathcote was beaten, 69-83 in hot conditions.

Maurice Lee 23 d J. Schultz 15, Chris Morcom 18 dr L. Hardingham 18, Adam Luxford 20 d J. Hegarty 19, Bill Gardiner 8 lt B.O’Conner 31.

The Maurice Lee-skipped rink won the first eight ends to lead by 13 shots.

Kangaroo Flat bounced back to claim four of the next five ends.

A five-shot victory by Lee on the last sealed an eight-shot win.

Chris Morcom’s rink faced a seven-shot deficit after 11 ends.

The Saints fought back to win six of next seven ends.

A three-shot victory on the last drew the contest.

Adam Luxford’s rink was beaten by six shots on the first end and faced a 10-shot deficit after the sixth end.

Heathcote fought on to win the next four ends and the last two ends to score a 20-19 victory.

Bill Gardiner’s rink was defeated on the opening four ends and was down by 23 shots by the 13th end.

Although the Saints won five of the next six ends the Roos claimed a 23-shot victory.

Although disappointed to be bounced out in consecutive weeks of the finals, Heathcote Bowling Club is incredibly proud of the season the division two team put together.

Best Pennant Player Vote Count was held last Thursday.

Bill Gardiner and Joe Jurcic were locked on 21 votes after the last card was called for the Weekend Pennant Player award.

Runner-up was Richard Edwards on 17 votes.

Best Midweek Pennant Player was Dot Cutajar on 20 votes from Chris Morcom on 19 votes.

Winners of social bowls on February 18 were Brian Berger (s) and Chris Lawrance, three wins, 43 points, +16 shots.

Runners-up were Ray Anderson (s) and Joe McCarthy, two wins, a draw, 37 points, +5 shots.

Mixed social bowls on Saturday from 1pm.

The club’s annual general meeting will be held on Sunday, May 24 from 2pm. Nomination forms are available at the clubrooms.

The invitation fours tournament planned for Sunday, March 1 has been postponed.