Bairnsdale sits two games clear on top of the Gippsland Bowls Region weekend pennant superleague competition ladder after scoring a comfortable victory over the winless Howitt Park last Saturday at the Howitt Park Bowling Club.
Bairnsdale obviously wasn’t affected by last week’s abandonment of matches, again scoring a clean sweep of all rinks in its 75-50 success over the gallant Parkers, who were very competitive in two of the rinks.
The outstanding performance of James Clay, Adam Easton, James McCausland and Neil Watts, who saluted 32-9, was the reason for the inflated winning margin.
Stewart Pyers, Geoff Woodward, Collen Smith, Brad Montant (21-20) and Brian Casey, Peter Rowe, Danny Prazza and Stephen Sroczynski (22-21) battled hard to just outpoint their Parker opponents.
Lakes Entrance 2 still remains in second place on the ladder, despite going down 54-61 at home to Sale 1, who sits within striking difference of the top five in seventh place.
Ray Kennedy, Allan Reid, Stephen Chalmer and Dennis Young were the biggest winners of the match for Sale 1, winners 22-16.
They were joined by Peter Niktin, Neal Taylor, Wally Hudson and coach Andrew Bell, who struck late, victorious 18-17, while the rink consisting of Sale’s Michael Dowd, Margaret Sceney, Rod Morris and Stephen Dove drew with the Lakes 2 combination of Michael Bratt, Maurice Carroll, Johannes Kool and Harley Johnson, 21-21.
Maffra was the big mover of the weekend, rising from sixth to a season-high of third, beating Stratford in the local derby 60-58.
Winners for Maffra were John Marshall, Geoff Landy, Brett Hodgins, Ronnie Orchard (20-19) and Glenn Crawford, Lewis Marston, Lester Merlo and Lyal Roberts (22-20).
Stratford, who now sit a disappointing 10th in a season that at times has promised plenty, were best served by Jan Morton, Kirstie White, Rob Grant and Stephen Dare (19-18).
Heyfield put in its best performance of the season, claiming the huge scalp of third-ranked Lindenow, who now drop to fourth.
The Bowling Roos were in sparkling form at home, claiming all rinks, recording win number three for the season in style 84-35 over the Cockies.
Mal Collings, Joshua O’Brien, Bert Middlehuis and Shane Holmes led the way, in sensational touch winning 37-7, well supported by Barry Anderson, Peter Ronan, Brendan Fleming, Rohan Kelly (25-12) and Bill Gilligan, Rod Sherrin, Shane Kelly and Bryan Reid (22-16).
Paynesville season may be on the improve, venturing into the top five after an improved effort against Metung at home, scoring victory 59-51.
Success for Paynesville came in two of the rinks with Roger Fraser, Josh Clark, Simon Kiss and Mark Challman winning 22-13, just as impressive were Glynis Bugeja, Rhonda Sadovsky, Michael Better and the energetic Jack Sharman (21-14).
Chris Wain, Mal Macpherson, Ray Crossley and Ron McDonald struck back for Metung, claiming their rink 24-16.
Another side to claim a big scalp was the 12th-ranked West Sale, who outplayed the sixth-placed Lakes Entrance 1 at home, getting the job done 71-52.
Albert Porter, Bob Johnson, Nick Wilson and Dennis O’Keefe played outstanding bowls during their 33-12 win, with Paul Swarski, Matthew Moulton, Rusty Lambourn and Brendan Addison getting the points on their final end 22-21.
Stephen Smith, Daniel Roberts, Bill Rowley and Kevin Brown were again the only winners for Lakes 1, 19-16.
Orbost made the long trip to Sale, denying Sale 2 it’s first victory, 69-44.
Winners for the Green Machine were Geoff Lynn, Maurice Frank, Peter Coulton, Geoff Robinson (24-11) and Ron Hatcher, Jurgen Fitchner, Robin Kellow and boom recruit Bradley Lancaster (27-11).
Sale’s Danny Chisholm, Peter Epplestun, Barry Stewart and Ian Jones played consistent bowls to win their rink 22-18.
THIS WEEK
Metung v Orbost; Sale 1 v Sale 2; West Sale v Heyfield; Paynesville v Lakes Entrance 1; Stratford v Lakes Entrance 2; Lindenow v Howitt Park; Bairnsdale v Maffra;