Lakes Entrance remains on top of the Gippsland Bowls Region Premier weekend pennant competition, even after suffering a comfortable loss to Sale last Saturday.
The visitors travelled to Sale seeking to cement a top-two finish, having been defeated only once this season, but the home side proved too strong, claiming a 64-46 victory. Daniel Roberts, Daffy Rawlings, Wayne Jones and Brendan Addison secured the only rink win for Lakes Entrance, 18-13. The combination has been the visitors’ most effective this season, suffering only two losses from 10 games.
In division one, ladder leaders Lakes Entrance 2 were too strong for bottom-placed Bairnsdale 3 at home, winning 63-51. Michael Bratt, Jeffrey Wilson, Johannes Kool and Barry Roberts led with a 24-13 rink victory, while Mike McKay, Kevin Dowie, Ray Ricca
and Harley Johnson added a 20-15 win.
Third-placed Lakes Entrance 3 endured disappointment on the road, going down 70-49 to fourth-placed Bairnsdale 2 at Bairnsdale Bowling Club. Despite holding a 14-point lead on the ladder with three rounds remaining, the side
will need to regain momentum to remain serious finals contenders. Ian Morris, Adrian Culph, Tom Rowe and Sharon Hall secured the only point for the day, drawing their
rink 22-22.
In a thrilling local derby, fourth-placed Lakes Entrance 5 kept its finals hopes alive by narrowly defeating ladder leaders Lakes Entrance 4, 35-33. The win was secured by Ernie Smith, Margo Short, Jeanette Rowley and Geoff Webb, victorious 17-15. The other rink, featuring Sharon Kavanagh, Colin Grassby, Michael Buttifant and Kenneth Melville, drew 18-18, with Ryan Dobson, Christine Piatek, Bob Lucas and Toby Spink.
Division three proved more challenging for Lakes Entrance, with their push for a finals berth hitting a major hurdle after a 43-36 loss to Howitt Park. It was Howitt Park’s first win of the season, leaving Lakes languishing in sixth spot, 15 points adrift of fourth-placed Bairnsdale Golf.
Max Towan, Wim Pennings, Gary Lewis and Faye Cannizzaro salvaged some pride with an outstanding rink win, 29-11.
THIS WEEK
Weekend Pennant
Round 12,
Saturday, January 24
Premier: Lakes Entrance v Stratford.
Division one east: Lakes Entrance 3 v Lakes Entrance 2.
Division two east: Lakes Entrance 4 v Lindenow; Howitt Park v Lakes Entrance 5.
Division three east: Lakes Entrance v Metung.
