MICHAEL HOLROYD
LAWN BOWLS
STRZELECKI NORTH
SATURDAY PENNANT
By MICHAEL HOLROYD
SATURDAY’S Grand Finals were a resounding success with a large crowd turning out at Traralgon Bowls Club to cheer on their favourite team in excellent bowling conditions in good weather.
Going in to the day, the competitions committee faced continual criticism from players suggesting that it was unfair to play matches at Traralgon with Traralgon playing at home in the top three divisions.
Nonetheless, a great day of bowls was had, with hundreds of spectators scattered around the rinks of the Traralgon Bowls Club.
Celebrations were aplenty at the day’s end, as six separate clubs won throughout the six divisions.
Droughts were broken and dynasties continued as the weekend pennant came to a close.
DIVISION 1
NEWBOROUGH went in to the Division 1 Grand Final as the underdogs, even though they were aiming for four premierships in a row; a feat that had not been achieved in recent times.
Traralgon, the hot favourites, would again play at home, after soundly defeating Newborough on their home turf a fortnight ago.
Newborough had to battle to defeat Drouin last week in the Preliminary Final.
Traralgon got away to a good start and held a handy lead during the early stages of the match.
Newborough fought back to have a handy lead at the drinks break.
Play seesawed for a number of ends until three of the four rinks had finished with Newborough leading by five shots.
Tommy Lodge and his rink of Barry Daley, John Backman and Scott Jones trailed Jim Scullin and his rink of Nick Turnbull, Pat Trewin and Brenton Hackett 16-21 with two ends to play.
Lodge ended the season having not lost a match throughout the season and had been well beaten in each of the two finals played in recent weeks, and must have been feeling the pressure.
Scullin gained two shots in the first of these ends after Lodge managed to draw his third shot, leaving Scullin needing to gain three shots to force all teams to play an extra end or four shots to win.
Turnbull got Scullin away to a good start before the jack got moved and Lodge managed to draw third shot with each of the skippers having one bowl to come.
Scullin played a handy bowl which just rolled too far leaving Traralgon two shots up on the end but one shot behind in the game.
Lodge conceded two shots with the score 16-25 and accepted the win to the jubilation of his teammates and many spectators.
Alan Grubb and his rink of Phil Marston, Paul Sherman and Neale Houston had a 23-15 win over Mick Coram and his rink of Angela Hackett, Ian Kirkup and Shane O’Loughlin.
Ryan Marston and his rink of Tony Knipping, Josh Kennedy and Rod Lewis had a 24-22 win over Vin McIlwain and his rink of Kirsty Van den Hoff, Shane Chapman and Matt Eccles, whilst Kevin Lovett and his rink of Dave Wurlod, Jo-Anne Michaels and George Lambos drew 17-17 with Matt Ferrari and his rink of Ian Hilsley, Chris Ward and Michael Yacoub.
Newborough 80 defeated Traralgon 79
DIVISION 2
TRARALGON (2), after winning the second Semi Final, were seeking to break a 28-year hoodoo when they took on Longwarry in the Grand Final.
Longwarry got away to a good lead until Traralgon (2) began to peg them back, until the sides were neck-and-neck with a few ends to play, and Traralgon (2) ended up winning by four shots with three rinks in front.
Ron Sherlock and his rink of Matt Ogilvie, Ian Bloomfield and Maurie Sutcliffe had a 26-21 win over Adam Proctor and his rink of Mark Serong, Col Finger and John McCarthy.
Abe Roeder and his rink of Chris Thomas, Rosie Lorenz and Bill Francis had a 23-19 win over Ken White and his rink of Hank Metselaar, Ian Peterson and Glenn Pask.
Cary Locke and his rink of Jedd Ladgrove, Al Hegarty and Trevor James had a 19-15 win over Ken Towt and his rink of Peter Lieshout, Robert Proctor and Trevor Kitchin.
Jason Lieshout and his rink of Grant Pask, Barry and Russell White had a good win for Longwarry, defeating Kevin Enguell and his rink of Tom Irvine, Kathy Smiles and Dave Currie 23-14, leaving Traralgon (2) the winners by four shots, giving Warragul the opportunity to remain in Division 1 for another season.
Traralgon (2) 82 defeated Longwarry 78
DIVISION 3
GARFIELD won a nail-biting finish against Traralgon (3) by two shots after being soundly defeated at home in the second Semi Final.
Shane Oliver and his rink of Graeme Burton, Henry Breteler and Richard Ross had a 26-16 win over Brendon Smiles and his rink of Elaine Swan, Bill Munday and Paddy Francis.
Stephen Whyte and his rink of Alan Wilson, Alan White and Gary Helmore had a 20-17 win over May Cross and her rink of Robert Marsh, Max Cumming and Barry Fernance.
Traralgon (4) was well-served by Bill Kirby and his rink of John Kong, Greg Swan and Ron Baker who defeated Nick Henwood and his rink of Les Pumphrey, Gary Payne and Bob Lamport 17-12, and Gordon Slimmon and his rink of Clint Jones, Ian Boyes and Ken Mooney who defeated Tom Cleary and his rink of Frank Prins, Leonard Preece and Joe Lenders.
Garfield 77 defeated Traralgon (3) 75
DIVISION 4
TRAFALGAR (2) faced off with Yarragon aiming to repeat their second Semi Final win.
Yarragon got away to a good start, however the experience of Trafalgar (2) came to the fore as they drew away for a sound win as the afternoon progressed.
Mal Clymo and his rink of Terry Robertson, Bernie Detering and Peter Watson had a 21-7 win over Jarrod Grigg and his rink of Richard Chetland, Ethan Storer and Bevan Romans.
Frank Farrugia and his rink of Alex Brodie, Peter Rosenboom and Graham Hill had a 28-15 win over Jason Roberts and his rink of Graham Wright, David Swingler and Murray Grigg.
Anthony Mitchinson and his rink of Derek Jones, Lawrence Heenan and Ian Riley drew 25-25 with Richard Polmear and his rink of Peter Handley, Gary Green and Kevin Arnold.
The lone winner for Yarragon was Sam Mazza and his rink of Ross McDermott, Rhett Galley and Kevin McLaren, with a 22-13 win over Bruce Giles and his rink of Anthony Dalgleish, Daryl Horner and Heather Taylor.
Trafalgar (2) 87 defeated Yarragon 69
DIVISION 5
MORWELL Club (2) to their great relief, achieved success after losing four Grand Finals in a row, with a solid victory over Neerim District (2).
Gail Rejmer and her rink of Mick Reynolds, Joyce Hughes and Sue Karleusa had a 23-11 win over Mal Collins and his team of Graeme Wingrove, Bronwyn Throup and George Rymer.
Andrew Shepley and his rink of Barbara Lewis, Jo Leslie and Beryl Noblett had a 16-14 win over Jim Schroeder and his team of Des Pelly, Richard Kerr and John Rochford.
Jan Karleusa and her rink of Leanne Broadbent, Geoff Unwin and Lisa Arnold drew 14-14 with Russell Meehan and his team of Jim Fallon, Gerald Englestad and Greg Bond.
Morwell Club (2) 53 defeated Neerim District (2) 39
DIVISION 6
YALLOURN North (2) had a good win over Neerim District (3) with Barry Lester and his rink of Glenn Swenson, Elizabeth Dobson and John Smith winning 20-12 against Cookie Halligan and her rink of Terry Giffin, Gerald Winter and Kay Cousins.
Mark Bentall and his rink of Anthony Wasiukiewicz, Matthew Coutts and John Wasiukiewicz defeated Steve Halligan and his rink of Peter Nolan, Neville Cousins and Julie Adams 18-16.
Yallourn North (2) 38 defeated Neerim District (3) 28
Chicken dinner: Traralgon (2) was the only Traralgon team out of three to win on the day.
The moment: Newborough players celebrate upon realising they have the Division 1 flag sewn up.
Glory: Newborough presented with the Division 1 premiership shield.
Battle: Newborough’s Kevin Lovett trying to edge his rink over the line.
Good game: Newborough celebrate after realising they’ve won a fourth-straight flag.
Champs: Division 6 premiers, Yallourn North.
Finally: After four Grand Final losses, Morwell Club etched one in the winners column in Division 5.
Bloods: Trafalgar get up in the Division 4 Grand Final.
Home away from home: Garfield travelled quite the distance to secure the Division 3 flag.
