The competitive Gippsland Bowls Region Superleague ladder leader hoodoo has struck again, with ladder leader Lindenow going down to reigning premier, Bairnsdale in round six at the Bairnsdale Bowling Club.
Bairnsdale claimed top spot with its 61-52 win over the Cockies, who now drop to fourth, despite halving the rinks in a tight afternoon of lawn bowls.
James Clay, Stewart Pyers, James McCausland and Neil Watts led the way for Bairnsdale victorious, in a match winning effort, 28-13.
The Cockies’ Donald Banks, David Tong, Lloyd Hammond and Anthony Edwards claimed the big scalp of Adam Easton, Geoff Woodward, Trevor Melotte and Brad Montant, 26-20, it was that combinations first pennant loss for the season.
The other rink was a low scoring, 13 apiece draw, played between Bairnsdale, Brian Casey, Peter Rowe, Danny Prazza and Stephen Sroczynski and the Lindenow’s Allan Dawson, Phillip Manning, Neil Plunkett and Ray Barry.
Lakes Entrance 1 returned to the winner’s list, moving from fourth to second on the ladder, 70-49 winners over Sale 2.
Winners for Lakes 1 were the consistent Julie Simpson, Mick Burge, Scott Davidson, Daffy Rawlings (26-11) and Eric Spence, Margaret Brandhoj, Jim Northe and Joanne Martin (24-11).
Darcy Chisholm, Peter Epplestun, Keith Pritchard and Ian Jones impressed for Sale 2, winners 27-20 in a high-quality rink encounter.
Metung finally got home in a close contest, after some agonisingly close losses this season.
The Tongers overcame Lakes 2 late at the Lakes Entrance Bowling Club, 60-58, despite just winning the solitary rink.
The win sees Metung in fifth place, marginally ahead of Paynesville, who are nipping at their heels, while Lakes 2 have dropped from second to third.
Dominant winners for Metung were Chris Wain, Mal Macpherson, Ray Crossley and Ronald McDonald 31-18.
Victorious for a gallant Lakes 2 were Jeff Wilson, Clement and Lillibeth Hochkins, Boyd McPhee (21-17), and Stephen Smith, Wallace Mason, Barry Roberts and Bill Rowley (19-12).
Last year’s grand finalist, Paynesville continued its good recent form, holding off a determined Maffra at home, 64-53.
Winners for the Bowling Gulls were Glynis Bugeja, Rhonda Sadovsky, Michael Better, Jack Sharman (25-13) and Greg Maidment, Rhys Selleck, Simon Kiss and Mark Challiman (25-20).
Maffra’s John Marshall, Geoff Landy, Brett Hodgins and Ronnie Orchard claimed the big scalp of Peter Fiske, Darren Aurisch, John Clark and George Lambos 20-14.
The absence of Darren Martin obviously significant.
Orbost won their second match of the season, proving too good for Howitt Park at home, 67-47.
The Green Machine took all the points, with three impressive rink wins, Geoff Lynn, Maurice Frank, Peter Coulton and Geoff Robinson leading the way with a 27-13 victory.
Other winners were Beryl Dyce, Bruce Kneebone, Karen Chenney, Geoff Aitken (21-18), and Ron Hatcher, Scott Farnell, Robyn Kellow and Bradley Lancaster (19-16).
Sale 1 (seventh) and West Sale (ninth) stayed in touch with victories at home and Stratford respectively.
Sale 1 were too good for Heyfield, winning two and half rinks in the 76-58 success, led by Michael Dowd, Margaret Scenery, Rod Morris and Shane Dove (30-18), who continued their outstanding recent form.
Raymond Kennedy, Alan Reid, Stephen Chalmer and Dennis Young all saluted 26-20, while teammates Judith Cahill, Ian Jones, Neal Taylor, Andrew Bell drew (20-20) with the bowling Roos’ Bill Gilligan, Rod Sherrin, Shane Kelly and Bryan Reid.
Stratford put up a good showing against West Sale at home, but faltered late, going down 49-57.
Winners for West Sale were Josh Tollner, Rowan Wallace, Bernie Dillon, David Hogan (23-17) and Stephen McKay, Timothy Graham, Nick Wilson and Dennis O’Keefe (19-14).
Kirstie White, Jan Morton, Robert Grant and Stephen Dare got a rink back for Stratford, getting over the line in a close contest 18-15.
THIS WEEK
Metung v Sale 2; Howitt Park v Sale 1; West Sale v Bairnsdale; Maffra v Orbost; Heyfield v Stratford; Lakes Entrance 2 v Paynesville; Lindenow v Lakes Entrance 1.
