Gippsland Bowls Region midweek pennant ladder leader and defending champion, Lakes Entrance, rounded of it’s finals preparation with a 75-49 win over Maffra at home last week.
Lakes will do battle with Sale in the Gippsland Bowls Region division one qualifying final this week for a spot in the grand final.
It was Lakes’ 13th win from 14 home and away matches, with their winning streak now out to 11, the only defeat for the season coming at the hands of third-ranked Stratford, who will play Paynesville in an elimination final. Both finals will be held at Bairnsdale Bowling Club.
Mike McKay, Jim Northe, Jenny and Kevin Dowie were dominant winners for Lakes Entrance, crushing their opponents 36-10.
Teammates Michael Bratt, Eric Spence, Wallace Mason, Kevin Brown (21-21) and Maurice Carroll, Margaret Brandhoj, Bill Rowley and Joanne Martin (18-18) scampered out with drawn rinks.
In division two both sides continued their positive formlines heading into finals action.
Lakes 3 made it six wins in a row, easily accounting for the Cockies at the Lindenow Recreation Reserve, 67-45.
They will play Metung this week in the qualifying final at Bairnsdale.
The stars for Lakes 3 last week were Margaret Simpson, Joseph Hales, David Ramsay, Greg Bertram (28-13), and Max Towan, Treen Norder, Peter Taylor and Geoff Rawlings (29-15).
Lakes Entrance 2 continued its unbeaten run since the Christmas break, flummoxing Howitt Park 84-43.
It will play Orbost in this week’s elimination final, also at Bairnsdale.
Dawn Irwin, Stephen Adams, Lynton Rathjen, Peter Howie (32-9) and Hayden Lancaster, Stanley Short, Ruth and Boyd McPhee (31-10) were all in sublime form, with a push for a grand final not out of the question.
In division three unbeaten ladder leader, Lakes 4 was successful again, but only just, getting over the top of Paynesville late to win 46-40.
The two sides will clash again in the qualifying final at Metung this week.
Dianne Scott, Frank Detering, Heather Todd and John Kimberley were impressive winners 30-18, while it was surprising to see Ian Gray, Charlie Abela, Carol and John Hurren suffer their first loss for the season, the dream season ended 16-22.
Lakes Entrance 5 was clean swept by the fifth side Bairnsdale Golf 1, 42-28.
It was a disappointing preparation for this week’s elimination final against Bairnsdale 3 at Metung.
