The second season of the Gippsland Bowls Region Superleague competition got underway last weekend with last year’s grand finalists pitted against each other, Bairnsdale and Paynesville.
Again it was Bairnsdale who were too good, interestingly enough the winning margin being exactly the same as on grand final day, 21 shots, Bairnsdale 61-40 winners in an outstanding start to the defence of its premiership.
Bairnsdale’s Stephen Srocynski, Danny Prazza, Peter Rowe and Brian Casey started the season with a bang, winning 26-11, while a steady performance from Adam Easton, Geoff Woodward, Trevor Melotte and Brad Montant saw them victors 19-12.
The other rink went right to the wire with Paynesville’s Peter Fiske, Darren Aurisch, Darren Martin and George Lambos winning 17-16 over James Clay, Stewart Pyers, James McCausland and Neil Watts.
The closest game of the round was at the Sale Bowling Club where Sale 1 and Lakes Entrance 1 played a 63-63 draw.
Lakes 1 was victorious in two of the rinks, winners being Eric Spence, Jim Northe, Margaret Brandhoj, Joanne Martin (31-19) and Mike McKay, Barry Roberts, Bill Rowley and Kevin Brown (21-19). Martin’s inclusion from Paynesville, quickly paying dividends.
Gail McKenzie, Barry Stewart, Ian Jones and Andrew Bell’s 25-11 victory for Sale 1 was enough for the hosts to scurry out with a draw.
Lakes Entrance 2 began the season the best possible way with a 77-40 clean sweep over Heyfield, who welcomed back Rohan Kelly after illness derailed his 2023/24 season.
It was great to see one of the greatest bowlers the region has produced out among the action, competitive as always.
Mark Campbell, Kenneth Melville, Jeffrey Wilson and Glenn Barker led the way for Lakes 2, sensational victors 35-12. Stephen Smith, Lynton Rathjen, Mark Elliott and Wallace Mason got home 21-13 and Michael Bratt, Johannes Kool, Maurice Carroll and Harley Johnson 21-14.
Lindenow made an early statement at home, 70-42 winners over Metung.
Despite Lindenow winning all three rinks, play was close on two of them, Dick Johnston, Allan Dawson, Phillip Manning and Raymond Barry successful 25-22, well supported by Donald Banks, David Tong, Lloyd Hammond and Anthony Edwards who were 15-12 victors.
The landslide was in the final rink with Peter Baylis, Alan Pincott, Michael Giddings and Stephen Brill winning 30-8, making Wayne Jones’ debut for Metung one he would rather forget.
Two of last year’s cellar dwellers, Maffra and Howitt Park, did battle at the Maffra Bowling Club with luck going Maffra’s way late in their 61-51 win.
Winners for the Eagles were Glenn Crawford, Lewis Marston, Lyal and Michael Roberts (25-22), John Marshall, Geoff Landy, Brett Hodgins and Ronnie Orchard (22-11).
Bill Cornwall, Martin Van Elst, Dean Dwyer and Jim Shanahan were winners in the final rink for the Parkers, 18-14.
West Sale made an early statement, 72-53 winners over Sale 2, with West winning two of three rinks in an encounter that lacked that competitive edge.
Paul Swarski, Chris Hunt, Nick Wilson and Dennis O’Keefe led the way for West with a decisive 29-11 victory, while former Lakes Entrance player Brendan Addison’s first foray in West Sale colours was memorable, combining with Paul Gallagher, Matthew Moulton and Rusty Lambourn to salute 26-15.
Judith Cahill, Ken Wegener, Peter Stephenson and Neal Taylor got a rink back for Sale 2, winning comfortably 27-17.
Orbost made the long trek to Stratford and after a competitive afternoon of bowls, the home side came out on top, 73-56.
There was no fairytale debut for prized recruit Bradley Lancaster, going down 26-18 to Colin Russell, Michael Dee, Leonie Flynn and Philip Crowder.
June Richardson, Wayne Marsden, Jason White and Ian Johns were also successful for Stratford 26-17, while Jan Morton, Kirstie White, Robert Grant and Stephen Dare drew with Orbost’s Geoff Lynn, Maurie Frank, Ron Hatcher and Geoff Robinson.
In this week’s matches, Heyfield hosts Sale 2, with both clubs chasing their first victory, while Metung will welcome West Sale, the home side looking to bounce back after a disappointing effort at Lindenow.
Lakes 1 is at home against Maffra, the sides looking relatively evenly matched, while Howitt Park might have its hands full on its home deck against Lakes 2.
Paynesville will be keen to bounce back at home against Lindenow, who were impressive in round one.
Sale 1 is at home to Stratford, who looms as one of the bigger improvers, while Orbost will host the defending champion, Bairnsdale, in what appears an entertaining clash.