Bowlers pip Stratford

After the washing out of Gippsland Bowls Region midweek pennant last week,

players were delighted to be able to return to the greens last Saturday for round five weekend action.

In premier league, Lakes Entrance’s losing sequence didn’t grow from one, moving back to second on the table by accounting for Stratford on a road trip, but only just, 63-59, in an epic contest.

Bradley Lancaster, Jim Northe, Kevin Brown and Stephen Smith found some form, victorious 28-12, well supported by Joanne Martin, Margaret Brandhoj, Eric Spence and Darren Martin, who were strong late, 22-17 victors.

The dominant performance of Stratford’s Carmel Boyd, Ross Morton, Wayne Marsden and Ian Johns (30-13) was almost enough to see the fourth-placed pinch victory.

Mixed results came in division two,

with ladder leader Lakes Entrance 2 going down to arch rival Orbost, while Lakes Entrance 3 made it three wins for the season, all consecutive, now a season-high second on the ladder.

Lakes 3 scored a resounding clean sweep at home, outclassing the fourth-placed Bairnsdale 2, 77-44.

Lynton Rathjen, Geoffrey Rawlings, Mark Elliott and Samuel Berlingeri led the way, putting on a clinic winning 31-14.

Ian Morris, Adrian Culph, Tom Rowe and Sharon Hall maintained their sensational form, making it four wins from five outings, winners 24-12.

Charles Lesiw, Stanley Short, Frank Ryan and Mark Campbell endured another close match, this time finishing 19-18 winners.

Lakes Entrance 2 was outclassed at home by the Green Machine, nothing going quite right in the 64-43 loss, unable to even secure a rink.

It was another disappointing defeat for Lakes in division three, easy fodder for Metung who scored at home 49-15.

THIS WEEK

WEEKEND PENNANT

Round 6, Saturday November 22

Premier: Lakes Entrance v Bairnsdale.

Division one east: Bairnsdale 3 v Lakes Entrance 2; Lakes Entrance 3 v Bairnsdale 2.

Division two east: Bruthen v Lakes Entrance 5; Bairnsdale v Lakes Entrance 4.