Stratford inflicted top side Sale’s first defeat of the Gippsland Bowls Region Premier weekend pennant season, but still slipped one place on the ladder to fifth.
Lindenow moved into the top four after round six — just. The Cockies won a thriller at home, 60–59, over a Metung side that refused to lie down. Metung won the final end on each rink, picking up six shots in the process, only to fall short by the narrowest margin.
David Tong, Martin Van Elst, Brian Peacock and Raymond Barry led the way for Lindenow with a decisive 27–15 win, highlighted by taking six of the last eight ends, including a seven-shot haul. They were well supported by Dick Johnston, Jeff Watts, Allan Dawson and Nigel Plunkett, who scrambled home 23–22. Brett Shields, Jim Beale, Richard Dooley and Jack Sharman clawed one back for Metung with a comprehensive 22–10 victory.
Stratford held on at the Sale Bowling Club in another thriller, edging out the ladder leader 47–46 despite some strong late results from the home side.
Kirstie White, Wayne Marsden, Scott Manson and Ian Johns dominated for Stratford, winning 21–11. The competition’s current leading combination — the unbeaten
Sale four of Peter Nikitin, Neal Taylor, Dennis Young and Andrew Bell — were again superb, claiming a 19–10 win, including a four on the final end to push for overall victory.
The remaining rink finished level at 16–16 between Sale’s Michael “Wally” Hudson, Shane Dove, Jason Wholohan and Andrew Stephenson, and Stratford’s Janelle Abraham, June Richardson, Robert Grant and Phillip Crowder. Sale picked up three crucial shots across the final two ends to force the draw.
In the battle between the competition’s second- and third-ranked teams, Lakes Entrance proved too strong for Bairnsdale at home, winning 60–47. The victory sees Lakes trail Sale by only percentage in the race for top spot.
Daniel Roberts, Daffy Rawlings, Wayne Jones and Brendan Addison bounced back after a rare slip last week with a convincing 25–14 win. They were well supported by Bradley Lancaster, Jim Northe, Kevin Brown and Stephen Smith, who continued their resurgence with a 21–14 victory. Ayla Romanin, Adam Easton, Dennis O’Keefe and Brad Montant were the only rink winners for Bairnsdale, 19–14.
Maffra recorded their second win of the season, outplaying reigning premier Paynesville at home, 70–48. Winning Maffra combinations were Julie Orchard, Geoff Landy, Brett Hodgins and Ronnie Orchard (29–13), and Grant Smith, Glenn Crawford, Lyal Roberts and Michael Roberts (23–14).
Lee-Anne Atkinson, Joe Cilauro, Jenny Easton and Margery Nathan again impressed for Paynesville, successful 21–18.
THIS WEEK
Round 7, Saturday November 29
Premier: Bairnsdale v Sale; Metung v Lakes Entrance; Paynesville v Lindenow; Stratford v Maffra.
Division one east: Howitt Park v Bairnsdale 3; Bairnsdale 2 v Orbost; Lakes Entrance 2 v Lakes Entrance 3.
Division one north: Sale 2 V Maffra; Heyfield v Stratford; West Sale v Sale 3.
Division two east: Lakes Entrance 5 v Paynesville; Lindenow v Bruthen; Lakes Entrance 4 v Howitt Park; Bairnsdale Golf v Bairnsdale.
Division two north: Maffra v Sale 5; Yarram v Sale 4; West Sale v Heyfield; Stratford bye.
Division three east: Howitt Park v Lindenow; Metung v Paynesville; Lakes Entrance v Bairnsdale 6; Bairnsdale Golf v Bairnsdale 5.
Division three north: Sale 7 v Rosedale. Maffra v Stratford; Yarram v Sale 6; Heyfield v
Loch Sport.
Division four east: Bairnsdale 7 v Orbost; Tambo Valley v Bairnsdale 8; Bairnsdale Golf v Bruthen; Paynesville bye.
