Lakes Entrance Bowling Club’s premier and division two sides will launch their Gippsland Bowls Region weekend pennant finals campaign this weekend.
In premier league action, Lakes regained second spot and the all-important double chance with a comfortable 71-47 victory over Metung at home, setting up a showdown with ladder leader Sale.
The win was built on strong performances from Eric Spence, Margaret Brandhoj, Darren and Joanne Martin (23-13), and Michael Bratt, Jim Northe, Kevin Brown and Bradley Lancaster (27-13).
The other rink ended in a dramatic tie after Lakes (Wallace Mason, Daffy Rawlings, Wayne Jones and Brendan Addison) fought back from 17-3 down, taking a 21-20 lead with one end remaining following a four-end run that claimed 15 shots.
Metung, led by Ronald McDonald, regained composure and picked up a shot on the final end to tie the contest.
Metung’s combination included former and current Lakes players Maurice Carroll and Bill Rowley.
Lakes will face Sale this week, aiming to secure a berth in the grand final and improve on two previous losses to the top-ranked side.
Mixed results were seen in division one as the home-and-away season concluded. Ladder leader Lakes Entrance 2 returned from Bairnsdale with a 63-48 win over Howitt Park.
Standout performances came from Wayne Denning, Kevin Watson, Jack Light, Kevin Dowie (24-11), and Mile McKay, Rob Norder, Ray Ricca and Harley Johnson (25-16).
Meanwhile, third-placed Lakes Entrance 3 suffered a 68-45 loss to Orbost in an away fixture, leaving the door slightly open for fourth-ranked Bairnsdale 2, who currently trail by 11 points.
If Lakes 3 were to suffer another clean sweep defeat and Bairnsdale 2 won two rinks or more, Lakes 3 could miss the finals.
That scenario already played out in division two.
Lakes Entrance 5 lost in straight sets to Paynesville, 54-34, conceding their spot to Bruthen, who upset third-rated Lindenow.
Lakes Entrance 4 were victorious on the road, defeating Howitt Park 48-39. Despite the win, dropping a rink relegated them to second on the table, denying them a home qualifying final.
The winners for Lakes 4 were Ryan Dobson, Colin Grassby, Bob Lucas and Tony Spink, 26-14.
In division three, Lakes Entrance finished the season in sixth spot after a 52-29 loss to Bairnsdale 6 in the final round.
THIS WEEK
Saturday, February 14
Premier (qualifying final): Sale v Lakes Entrance.
Division one east (round 15): Orbost v Lakes Entrance 2; Lakes Entrance 3 v Bairnsdale 3.
Division two east (qualifying final): Paynesville v Lakes Entrance 4, if lose play Sunday in preliminary final.
