Bairnsdale is the inaugural winner of the Gippsland Bowls Region (GBR) Superleague weekend pennant competition after an emphatic victory over Paynesville last Saturday at the Bairnsdale Bowling Club.
The dominant performer in the 14-team competition in the second half of the season, Bairnsdale opened up a 10-shot lead early in the match and although Paynesville mounted several spirited challenges, Bairnsdale held its nerve to win convincingly by 21 shots, 67-46.
Not only has Bairnsdale claimed the first major premiership in the region for 2024, it also set the early benchmark for celebrations with the party going long into the night.
Joshua Foster, Wayne Jones, Brad Montant and Jarrad Sergi were in superb form, dismantling Paynesville’s fab four of Peter Hardy, Adam Easton, George Lambos and Darren Martin in clinical fashion, 28-5.
Geoff Woodward, Trevor Melotte, Neil Watts and ex-Belmont player Stewart Pyers were impressive winners 21-15 over the energetic Rhys Selleck and co.
Paynesville got a rink back with Mark Challman, Joanne Martin, Ricky Young and Ivan Thompson proving too good for one of the powerhouse combinations of the region, Brian Casey, Peter Rowe, Danny Prazza and Stephen Sroczynski, 26-18.
Bairnsdale will represent the GBR at the state weekend pennant championships on May 4-5.
Lakes Entrance 3 was successful in the division two finale, easily overcoming Maffra, winning all three rinks, finishing with a 73-40 win, the result never in doubt.
Stephen Smith, Barry Munns, Ron McKay and club champion, Kevin Brown led the way with an impressive 26-9 win, well supported by Joseph Hales, Stan Short, Mark Elliott, Graham Watson (28-13), Lynton Rathjen, Christine Buntine, Sam Berlingeri and Bob Lucas (19-18).
The rinks were shared in division three, but it was Paynesville who prevailed 40-32 over Sale.
Paynesville’s Wilma Fowden, Ray Holland, Kevin Savage, Martin Bugeja were in great touch, their 24-12 result enough to get ensure victory.
Sale’s Stewart Batchelor, Peter Warner, Robert Jones and Nev Irish won the other rink 20-16.
Yarram got among the silverware in division four, beating Bairnsdale Golf in a thrilling encounter by a solitary shot, 37-36.
The rinks were split, but the efforts of Ken Dawson, Theo Tymensen, Ken Wadsworth and Brett Davis to win 23-16 proved pivotal in the win, with Golf’s John Beanland, Janet Dodson, Alan Taylor and Stephen Beggs winning the other rink, 20-16.
MIDWEEK PENNANT
Lakes Entrance is the GBR Superleague midweek pennant champion for 2023/2024, capturing its third consecutive regional title at the Maffra Bowls Club last week.
The hard-fought 61-53 victory over Bairnsdale earned Lakes Entrance the right to represent the region at the state champions of midweek pennant tournament to be held this year at Moama on May 6-7.
Lakes Entrance was unlucky not to win the event last year and is hoping to go one better this year.
Winners for Lakes in the pennant finale were Michael Bratt, John Hurren, Brown (22-15), Mike McKay, Hayden Lancaster, Jenny and Kevin Dowie (22-19).
John Reid, Sharon Hall, Jeff Watts and Pyers won the other rink for Bairnsdale 19-18.
In division two, Sale dictated the play for most of the day, winning 67-48 over Lakes Entrance.
Pam Griffiths, Camille Rowan, Ian Kendall and Denis Madeley were in outstanding touch, saluting 30-12, well supported by Roslyn Brown, Janelle Abraham, Bruce Hughes and Neal Taylor, who prevailed 21-16.
Dawn Irwin, Jacinta Wilson, Peter Taylor and Berlingeri were the shining lights for Lakes, winning 20-16.
Maffra is the division three champion, humbling Lindenow by 41 shots, 67-26.
Jennie Chislett, Graeme Fitt, David Crutchfield and John Marshall had a day out, winning remarkably 43-7.
Geoff Kay, Joy Waddell, Sue and Brian Wain made it a clean sweep with a 24-19 result.
Sale won both rinks in its 61-35 division four win over Lakes Entrance.
Emmy Van Berkel, Jody Corrigan, James Waddell-Stuart and Frank Stake led from the front winning 33-16 and Peter Walsh, Cheryl French, David Marshman and Alby Hallas were just as impressive winners 38-19.
GBR EVENTS
After two days of intense competition at Sale Bowling Club, the 2023/24 GBR mixed pairs champions are Gail McKenzie (West Sale) and Allan Watts (Yarram).
McKenzie and Watts teamed up to defeat Sale pair Taylor and Corrigan in the grand final 19-2.
