Saints face Serpentine in semi

FIRST to grand final is at stake when Heathcote plays Serpentine in Saturday’s start to the Division Three finals action in Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields Bowls weekend pennant.

Heathcote is on home greens for the second semi-final which starts at 1.30pm.

This season’s matches between the teams stand at one-all.

Serpentine won 90-55 in round five and the Saints surged to a 108-55 victory just three weeks ago.

Heathcote has a win-loss tally of 11-3 and rides a six-match winning streak into the finals while Serpentine’s tally is 8-5-1.

The Saints won their latest match against Kangaroo Flat by 11 shots.

The Maurice Lee-skipped rink led by 17 after 11 ends and rolled on to a 30-8 result.

Chris Morcom held a 12-shot lead by the 13th end.

Although beaten on three of the last four ends, Morcom won 23-14.

Bill Gardiner and Adam Luxford will be keen to bounce back after 10-shot defeats.

In Division Six, Heathcote won its last match of the season at Bendigo East by seven shots.

The Saints finished a win out of the four.

After scores were level on the 17th and 19th ends, Lorraine Speirs clinched a 19-18 victory.

Brian Berger led by six shots going into the 11th end and kept the pressure on to claim a 22-13 win.

Although they led by seven shots after 12 ends, Denis Kilner’s rink could not stop the Roos fighting back to win 18-15.

The “Brownlow Count” for best pennant player in weekend and midweek play was held after Saturday’s matches.

Denis Kilner and John McGillivray were locked on 19 votes after the final card was called and were declared joint “Brownlow Medallists”.

Runner-up was Brett Kelly on 18 votes.

It was a tie for midweek honours as Dot Cutajar and Lorraine Speirs led the medal race on 25 votes.

Runner-up was Greg Speirs on 20.

Social bowls on 14 February was three games of pairs and triples and winners were Peter Cunningham and Richard Edwards, two wins, 34 points, +9 shots.

Runners-up were Rod Hanson and Daniel Fitton, two wins, 33 points, +5 shots.