Playing with a new-found belief, Paynesville made it through to the Gippsland Bowls Region weekend superleague pennant grand final from fifth place on the ladder, defeating a disappointing Lakes Entrance 1 in the preliminary final at the Bairnsdale Bowling Club last Saturday.
The match was originally scheduled for play at the Lakes Entrance Bowls Club but with searing heat predicted, the match was transferred for player and spectator comfort.
Runner-up last season, Paynesville looks to be peaking at the right time of the season, currently experiencing its longest winning streak – four – easily accounting for Lakes 1, 67-49, setting up a rematch with last year’s nemesis, Bairnsdale.
Playing with plenty of enthusiasm and confidence, Paynesville established an early lead in the contest and never allowed Lakes 1 a look-in after 30 ends were completed.
Paynesville won two of the three rinks, led by the 29-9 landslide victory by George Lambos, Darren Martin, John Clark and the rejuvenated Peter Fiske.
When Paynesville was at its ruthless best in 2023/24, it was Lambos who led the way, setting a high benchmark.
The enthusiastic and excitable Jack Sharman and his right hand man Simon Kiss, combined with Glynis Bugeja and Rhonda Sadovsky to win their rink 23-19.
The only winners for Lakes were Julie Simpson, Scott Davidson, Daffy Rawlings and Michael Bratt 21-15, bouncing back after disappointment in week one of the finals.
It was a less-than-ideal finish to a finals campaign for Lakes 1 that gained plenty of momentum at Metung last week when it pushed Bairnsdale out of its comfort zone, only to fall on its sword a week later when premiership glory didn’t look that far away.
The happiest Lakes Entrance person at Bairnsdale last Saturday was local caravan park operator Darren Martin, getting the bragging rights over wife Joanne, who was part of the losing Lakes 1 combination.
All roads will now lead to Heyfield to see if redemption is on the cards for Paynesville.
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