Lakes Entrance 1 lost to reigning premier Bairnsdale in its Gippsland Bowls Region weekend pennant superleague qualifying final at Metung last Saturday.
The match wasn’t decided until the very last end, Bairnsdale winning the tight and exciting match 62-54.
All three rinks were neck and neck for most of the day, with little separating the sides through the first two thirds of the contest as the wind played havoc with matches.
With some solid play, Lakes Entrance 1 surged to a six-shot advantage with 13 ends to play and looked to be playing better and set for victory.
But when Mick Burge conceded seven shots in one end to Brad Montant, the match was back on an even keel and going to go right to the wire.
Bairnsdale won the final end on each of the three rinks, picking up nine shots in the process to win the contest by eight.
Eric Spence, Margaret Brandhoj, Joanne Martin and Bracken Edwards (22-18) were the only rink winners for Lakes Entrance, but their teammates certainly weren’t disgraced and the match could have quite easily have gone the other way.
If Lakes Entrance 1 can knock off Paynesville this week an exciting and close grand final looks likely.
DIVISION TWO
There was disappointment for both Lakes Entrance teams, exiting the finals series last weekend.
On Saturday Lakes 4 defeated Lakes 3 in the elimination final at the Bairnsdale Bowling Club, 57-50.
Despite only winning the one rink, the effort of Victor Timpano, Colin Grassby, Michael Buttifant and Mark Campbell to win 24-10 was enough to see Lakes 4 progress to the preliminary final on Sunday.
Rink winners for a gallant Lakes 3 were Ian Morris, Ray Ricca, Bob Lucas, Sam Berlingeri (20-18) and Lynton Rathjen, Stan Short, Geoffrey Rawlings and Mark Elliott (20-18).
Unfortunately, Bairnsdale 2 was much too good for Lakes 4 in the preliminary final, clean sweeping the rinks on the way to a 65-43 win.
DIVISION THREE
Lakes Entrance 5 was also an elimination final casualty, going down to Bruthen 41-22.
THIS WEEK
Division 1: Lakes Entrance 1 v Paynesville, at Lakes Entrance Bowls Club.
The Lakes Entrance Bowling Club (LEBC) will also host the division two, three and four GBR East conference grand finals.
PREVIEW
The GBR superleague preliminary final is an intriguing clash, with both sides going into the match in outstanding form.
Lakes 1 had strung together five impressive wins, before pressing Bairnsdale all the way last Saturday, at stages looking like they would progress to the grand finale, while Paynesville have for the first time this season put together three wins in a row.
Of the four sides on display at Metung last Saturday, last year’s runners-up are certainly playing with the most enthusiasm and team spirit.
The match will also pit husband against wife, with local caravan park operators Darren and Joanne Martin in opposite camps.
Last year they were teammates at Paynesville but Joanne has resumed playing for Lakes after the pair moved back to the town.
She will be hoping to add another premiership to her impressive haul with the LEBC.
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
Margaret Brandhoj and Beth Hochkins won the 2024/25 LEBC ladies pairs championship last week.
