The home and away section of Gippsland Bowls Region midweek pennant concluded earlier this week, with a competitive finals series set to begin on Monday.
Stratford snuck into the division one finals, with a close win (60-57) at home over Maffra, who were the unfortunate side to drop out.
To make the defeat even harder to fathom, they won two of the three rinks.
But it was the effort of Carmel Boyd, Frank Stake, Peter Ribolli and Michael Dee, winning 28-15, that ultimately set Stratford up for victory.
Their effort on the final three ends, picking up 10 shots, was pivotal in the final result.
Winners for Maffra were Julie Orchard, Jeanette Simmons, Brett Hodgins, sRon Orchard (19-16) and Annette Anderson, John Spencer, Glenn Conduit and Geoff Landy (23-16).
Both Maffra combinations gave a great account of themselves in the contest as the pressure mounted.
Their elimination final opponent, Sale, will be fresh and keen to get out on the green after having a bye.
Bairnsdale finished on top of the ladder, overcoming a gallant Metung at home 66-61.
There would be some concern in the Bairnsdale camp, given they were only able to win a single rink against a side which missed the finals.
Thankfully for them, the efforts of Colleen Smith, Bradley King, John and Stewart Pyers winning 29-12 were sufficient to secure overall victory.
Metung were well served by Leah Cameron, Maurice Carroll, Glenn Barker, Jack Sharman (26-20) and Maree Cross, Chris Wain, David Roberts and Ray Crossley (23-17).
Bairnsdale’s opponent in the qualifying final will be defending champion, Lakes Entrance who finished the season in style, with a clean sweep victory over Lindenow (64-51).
Winners for Lakes Entrance at the Lindenow Bowling Club were Mike McKay, Jennifer Dowie, Jim Northe, Kevin Dowie (20-17), Wallace Mason, Jack Light, Bill Rowley, Kevin Brown (21-15) and Eric Spence, Sharon Hall, Margaret Brandhoj and Joanne Martin (23-19).
The combination of Mason, Brown, Light and Rowley finished the season as the competition’s most successful combination, with nine wins.
PRELIMINARY FINALS
Division one (Tuesday): Sale v Stratford at Sale Bowling Club.
Division two east (Monday): Lakes Entrance 3 v Bairnsdale 2 at Lakes Entrance
Bowling Club.
Division two north (Tuesday): Sale 2 v Maffra at Sale Bowling Club.
Division three east (Tuesday): Bairnsdale 4 v Paynesville 3 at Bairnsdale Bowling Club.
Division three north (Tuesday): Maffra 3 v Heyfield at Maffra Bowling Club.
QUALIFYING FINALS
Division one (Monday): Bairnsdale v Lakes Entrance at Bairnsdale Bowling Club.
Division two east (Tuesday): Lakes Entrance 2 v Paynesville at Lakes Entrance Bowling Club.
Division two north (Tuesday): Yarram v Heyfield at Yarram Country Club.
Division three east (Tuesday): Paynesville 2 v Lakes Entrance 4 at Paynesville Bowling Club.
Division three north (Tuesday): Maffra 4 v Sale 5 at Maffra Bowling Club.
All matches commence at 10am.
