Gippsland Bowls Region weekend pennant bowls got underway last Saturday, with Lakes Entrance beginning its premier division campaign in the best possible fashion.
Taking on reigning premier Paynesville, at the Paynesville Bowls Club, Lakes Entrance emerged an impressive 69-57 victor, claiming two of the three rinks.
Leading the way were Stephen Smith, Jim Northe, Kevin Brown and Bradley Lancaster, in his return after a season at Orbost, victorious 27-17.
They were ably assisted by Ray Ricca, Daffy Rawlings, Wayne Jones and Brendan Addison who saluted 24-19.
Addison has returned to Lakes this season after a year playing at West Sale, who this year aren’t part of the premier competition. Jones returns after seasons at Bairnsdale and Metung. Both are former top grade premiership players.
There were mixed results in division one, highlighted by an impressive victory at home by Lakes Entrance 2 over Bairnsdale 3, 65-43.
Lakes picked up two of the three rinks, with the winners being Kenneth Melville, Wayne Denning, Jack Light, Wallace Mason (23-10) and Michael Bratt, Jeffrey Wilson, Johannes Kool and Barry Roberts (28-13).
Lakes Entrance 3 went down in one of the games of the round against Bairnsdale 2, 66-65. Despite winning the majority of the rinks, the game was decided on the final end.
Ian Morris, Tom Rowe, Kevin Watson and Sharon Hall were dominant winners 30-13, while Charles Lesiw, Stan Short, Lee Burt and Frank Ryan got over the line 21-19.
It was a similar result in division two, with a win to Lakes Entrance 4, but defeat for Lakes Entrance 5.
Lakes 4 split the rinks at home with Bruthen, but the efforts of Joseph Hales, Kerry Thomas, Roy Roberts and Charlie Abela (30-16) was enough to ensure victory 45-38.
Bairnsdale Golf was a 44-35 winner over Lakes 5, Golf taking both rinks.
In division three, Lakes was outclassed at home 53-28 by Paynesville.
THIS WEEK
Round 2, Saturday October 25
Premier: Lakes Entrance v Lindenow.
Division one east: Lakes Entrance 3 v Lakes Entrance 2.
Division two east: Lakes Entrance 4 v Paynesville; Lakes Entrance 5 v Bairnsdale.
Division three east: Lakes Entrance v Lindenow.
