Bairnsdale has surged to the top of the Gippsland Bowls Region midweek pennant ladder after defeating reigning premiers Lakes Entrance on their home turf last week.
The 79-53 victory marked the second time this season Bairnsdale has toppled the competition benchmark, with the ease of their win the biggest surprise.
Lakes Entrance gained its only points in the final end when Wallace Mason, Jack Light, Bill Rowley and Kevin Brown drew 21-21 with Bairnsdale’s Glynis Bugeja, Jeff Watts, Geoff Aitken and Neil Watts. The result leaves Lakes trailing Bairnsdale by nine points, while maintaining a
seven-point buffer over third-placed Sale. It was Lakes’ third loss of
the season.
In division two, Lakes Entrance 2 retained its hold on top spot, narrowly defeating Bairnsdale 2 at home in a tight contest. Lynton Rathjen, Stanley Short, Kevin Watson and Rob Norder led the way with a 25-16 rink win, contributing to the 57-54 overall victory. David Hocking, Jacinta Wilson, Peter Spark and Samuel Berlingeri also secured a rink win (19-16) to complete the triumph.
Sixth-placed Lakes Entrance 3 showed grit in a narrow 64-60 loss to Orbost in a local derby. The side won two of the three rinks but fell short on match points.
Julie Rowe, Robert Wilson, Bill Gilbert and Peter Howie delivered a convincing 31-19 rink win, while Dawn Irwin, Joseph Hales, Charles Lesiw and Greg Bertram earned a hard-fought 19-15 success.
Division three proved disappointing for Lakes Entrance, with both sides going down. Lakes Entrance 4 suffered their first defeat of the season, losing
43-31 to Paynesville 2, finishing the day in second place on the table. Meanwhile, Lakes Entrance 5 travelled to Eagle Point seeking their first win but were defeated 52-32 by Bairnsdale Golf.
The latest round of results has shaken up the ladder, with Bairnsdale asserting itself as the team to beat, while Lakes Entrance sides continue to battle for points across all divisions.
NEXT WEEK
Round 13, Tuesday,
January 27
Division one: Lakes Entrance v Sale.
Division two east: Bairnsdale 3 v Lakes Entrance 2; Lakes Entrance 3 v Howitt Park.
Division three east: Lakes Entrance 4 v Howitt Park; Paynesville 3 v Lakes Entrance 5.
