Both Lakes Entrance Bowling Club’s premier teams sit inside the top three of the Gippsland Bowls Region Superleague after hard-fought victories at home last Saturday.
Unbeaten in season 2024/25, Lakes Entrance 2 sits an impressive second on the table after beating Maffra, 56-49.
Lakes 2 was victorious on just the one rink, the effort of Mark Campbell, Lee Burt, Boyd McPhee and Glenn Barker in winning 22-14 enough to ensure victory.
Michael Bratt, Johannes Kool, Maurie Carroll and Harley Johnson worked hard to escape with a draw.
Lakes Entrance 1 got over the line a little more comfortably, eclipsing Stratford late 74-60 after a torrid battle throughout the afternoon.
Eric Spence, Margaret Brandhoj, Jim Northe, Joanne Martin (24-16) and Julie Simpson, Daniel Roberts, Scott Davidson and Daffy Rawlings (29-13) were all among the winners, the victory confirming a current ladder position of third.
The wins kept coming in division two, with both Lakes Entrance sides coming out on top.
Lakes Entrance 3 sits second on the ladder after registering its second victory of the season, humbling Bairnsdale 3 at home, 78-40.
Ian Morris, Alan Light, Bob Lucas and Samuel Berlingeri led the way with a strong 35-9 demolition, well supported by Stephen Adams, Bill Gilbert, Geoffrey Rawlings and Greg Bertram, controlling play in their 27-13 rink success.
On the road at Lindenow, Lakes Entrance 4 broke through for its first victory of the campaign 76-44 over the Cockies.
David Ramsay, Kevin and Jenny Dowie, Ernest Smith (33-13) and Robert Roberts, Victor Timpano, Michael Buttifant and Charlie Abela (23-8) all having a day out.
Mixed results in division three, ladder leader Paynesville outclassed Lakes 6, 55-21, with a better result for Lakes 5, breaking through for its first victory of the season.
It defeated a gallant Bairnsdale by just two shots, 36-34, victory not ensured until the final end.
The victory of Ian Gray, Angelo Alonso, Mervyn Pratt and Gary Lewis claimed a 18-16 win, while Wim Pennings, Suzanne Light, Jeanette Rowley and Tony Spinks played a tight draw.
THIS WEEK
There are plenty of local derbies this Saturday, which makes for great viewing at the Lakes Entrance Bowls Club.
The Lakes Entrance sides will play each other in division one and two, the Superleague clash much anticipated with the winner likely to cement a place in the competition top two early in the season, which could be a huge advantage with all matches so close and hard to win.
In division three, Lakes 5 head to Bruthen, with Lakes 6 hosting Bairnsdale Golf.