Reigning premier and current ladder leader, Lakes Entrance, impressively defeated Maffra in round 10 of Gippsland Bowls Region midweek pennant action at the Lakes Entrance Bowling Club last week.
Lakes Entrance was victorious in two of the three rinks in its 65-44 victory, the winning teams being being Wallace Mason, Jack Light, Bill Rowley, Kevin Brown (23-8) and Mike McKay, Jenny Dowie, Jim Northe and Kevin Dowie (26-18), despite losing the final four ends.
In division two, Lakes Entrance 2 suffered its first defeat of the season, going down to Paynesville in the battle of the top two sides at the Paynesville Bowling Club, 59-51.
Despite the defeat, Lakes still holds a six-point advantage at the top of the table, with Michael Bratt, Carol Hurren, Peter-Alves Veira and John Hurren the only winners, 20-18, after close and competitive battles on all rinks.
It was a better result for Lakes Entrance 3, breaking a four-game losing streak, and despite sitting sixth on the ladder, keeping the finals dream alive.
It overcame another contender, Bairnsdale 3, at home, 59-53, despite winning just the one rink. Dawn Irwin, Joseph Hales, Charles Lesiw and Greg Bertram were winners 26-14.
In division three, one Lakes Entrance team is on top of the ladder and the other holding it up.
Unbeaten Lakes Entrance 4 was a 45-34 winner over fourth-ranked Paynesville 4 at the Paynesville Bowling Club, with Max Towan, Ernie Smith, Margo Short and Rhonda O’Neil pivotal in the win, rink victors 24-10.
The winless Lakes Entrance 5 went down to Bairnsdale 5, 32-48 at Bairnsdale Bowling Club.
Nettie Smith, Lesley Clare, Dianne Scott, Faye Cannizzaro did well to salvage a 20-20 tie in their rink.
The next round of matches is on January 13.
