Lakes Entrance 1 was the big mover in Gippsland Bowls Region Superleague round 10 action, defeating last season’s grand finalist Paynesville last Saturday at the Paynesville Bowling Club, 56-42.
The win propelled Lakes 1 from sixth on the ladder to third with just three rounds remaining, with finals spots from second through to fifth up for grabs, behind runaway leader, defending champion Bairnsdale.
Stephen Smith, Daniel Roberts, Bill Rowley and Kevin Brown were again victorious, continuing a rich run of from winners, 18-13.
Their efforts complimenting that of Eric Spence, Margaret Brandhoj, Jo Martin and Bracken Edwards who crushed Paynesville’s Peter Fiske, Martin Bugeja, Darren Martin and George Lambos 26-11.
It was interesting to see in that match local bowls couple Darren and Jo Martin going head to head at three, with Jo confirming what Darren has always said – she’s the best player in their household.
Lakes 2 dropped from a season high second on the table last week to out of the top five, now sitting sixth, after an agonising loss against an unpredictable Stratford on their home green.
Stratford getting over the line 59-56, with the rinks split in an encounter which went right to the wire.
Mike McKay, Wallace Mason, Jim Northe and Glenn Barker were 21-17 victors for Lakes 2, while for the second week in a row Michael Bratt, Maurice Carroll, Johannes Kool and Harley Johnson escaped with a draw, this time 23-23.
There were mixed results in division two, with the results seeing a change in the Lakes Entrance side inside the vital top three with only four rounds remaining.
Lakes 4 moved up to third spot after scoring a much-needed clean sweep victory over Lindenow at home, 80-47.
Ern Smith, Peter Taylor, David Ramsay and Ray Ricca led the rout, impressively winning 33-13, well supported by Victor Timpano, Stephen Adams, Michael Buttifant, Mark Campbell (24-15) and Joseph Hales, Roy Roberts, Colin Grassby and Greg Bertram (23-19)
Lakes 3 dropped to fifth spot after finding Bairnsdale 3 too big a task at the Bairnsdale Bowling Club, succumbing 66-53.
The only rink to make any impression was Ian Morris, Alan Light, Bob Lucas and Samuel Berlingeri who escaped with a draw, 19-19.
For the second consecutive week the highlight of the weekend’s bowling from a Lakes Entrance perspective was in division three where the giant killers, seventh-ranked Lakes Entrance
6, were victorious for the third time this season, again claiming a huge scalp in ladder leader Paynesville.
Lakes 6 was victorious at home 56-29 with Max Towan, Robyn Auscote, Dennis Olivia and Leslie Gersbach in sublime form, 37-10 winners.
Lakes Entrance 5 dropped another spot on the table, now sixth after being outplayed by Bairnsdale 4A, 52-25.
GIPPSLAND BOWLS REGION PAIRS
The Gippsland Bowls Region state pairs finals were decided at the Sale Bowling Club last Sunday with Stratford’s Leonie Flynn and Kirstie White victorious 16-9 over the Paynesville pairing of Rhonda Sadovsky and Glynis Bugeja in the ladies’ section.
The men’s event was a classic, a very high standard game played in great spirit, with a twist at the end.
Metung’s Ron McDonald and playing partner David Roberts were facing defeat, but remarkably turned a four-shot deficit into a one-shot victory on the final end winning 16-15 over ex-Lakes Entrance premiership stars Brendan Addison and Bradley Lancaster.
The winning combinations will compete for state honours in Bendigo during April.
THIS WEEK
Division 1: Lakes Entrance 2 v Bairnsdale; Lakes Entrance 1 v Heyfield.
Division 2: Lakes Entrance 3 v Lakes Entrance 4.
Division 3: Bairnsdale Golf v Lakes Entrance 6; Lakes Entrance 5 v Bruthen.
