History made but ‘job not over’ for Sharks

TORQUAY Bowls Club has made the premier division preliminary final for the first time its history, according to elated player and president Joe Issell.

The Sharks will be looking to back up their stunning semi-final win when they take on reigning premier Highton in the preliminary final on Saturday at Geelong Bowls Club.

The winner will face Ocean Grove in the Geelong Bowls Region decider.

Torquay pulled-off an against-the-odds 78-77 shot victory against Queenscliff in a match decided on the final bowl.

Issell said the experienced Sharks never gave up against the side that had beaten them twice during the regular season.

“We gave ourselves a chance but as the game was getting to the close, we thought we weren’t in the hunt. Then all of a sudden, we were back in it,” he said.

“It was one of those ones where we came [back] from the dead to win.”

Highton are coming off a 71-62 semi-final loss to Ocean Grove.

Torquay had their measure in both their encounters this season but Issell said finals were different.

“You just have to go out, back your own game plan, be positive, and respect the opposition without fearing them,” he said.

Torquay’s division 12 outfit has progressed to the grand final while the division 8 team will play Portarlington in a preliminary final on Saturday.

The Sharks will have teams in four midweek pennant deciders on Tuesday, March 11 at 10am.

They will play Ocean Grove in the division 1 grand final at Belmont, Belmont in division 3 at Highton, and Geelong in division 6 at Highton.

The division 8 side will play Eastern Park at Bareena.