Stratford moved into the top four of Gippsland Bowls Region midweek pennant with an outstanding win (73-51) in round eight action over ladder leader and reigning premier, Lakes Entrance at the Lakes Entrance Bowling Club.
Janelle Abraham, June Richardson, Anne Renehan and Kirstie White led the way with a powerhouse performance, dominant winners 29-13, winning six of the last seven ends, when the Joanne Martin-led Lakes outfit looked set to mount a challenge.
Lucia Dalli, Joy Nowak, Wayne Marsden and Ross Morton were also victorious for Stratford, 22-15, after winning seven of the final 10 ends.
Wallace Mason, Jack Light, Bill Rowley and Kevin Brown picked up a vital two points for Lakes, winners 23-22, despite losing four of the last five ends.
The five shots they banked on the 15th end, pivotal in the victory, meant Lakes remained on top by just three points after the loss.
In division two, ladder leader Lakes Entrance 2 maintained its unbeaten run, victorious in an away game against Bairnsdale Golf, 73-44.
Michael Bratt, Carol Hurren, John Hurren and Peter Alves-Veira continued their recent outstanding form, with a sensational 34-14 victory.
Lynton Rathjen, Stanley Short, Kevin Watson and Rob Norder also impressed in their 21-12 winning result.
David Hocking, Jacinta Wilson, Peter Spark and Samuel Berlingeri halved their rink, 18-18.
Lakes Entrance 3 continued their run of losses, recording their third consecutive loss, despite winning two of their ends, in a similar scenario to last week.
Bairnsdale 2 took the majority of the points, victors 67-59.
Dawn Irwin, Joseph Hales, Charles Lesiw, Greg Bertram (27-20) and Julie Rowe, Robert Wilson, William Gilbert and Peter Howie (18-17) were again rink winners.
Unbeaten division three team, Lakes Entrance 4, was challenged but managed to escape with a 37-36 win over Bairnsdale 4 at the Bairnsdale Bowling Club.
Max Towan, Ernie Smith, Margo Short and Rhonda O’Neill were the heroes, 24-10 winners.
Lakes Entrance 5 were no match for Paynesville, going down 47-23.
NEXT WEEK
Round 10, Tuesday, December 16
Division one: Lakes Entrance v Maffra.
Division two east: Paynesville v Lakes Entrance 2; Lakes Entrance 3 v Bairnsdale 3.
Division three east: Paynesville 3 v Lakes Entrance 4; Bairnsdale 5 v Lakes Entrance 5.
