The Regional Sides Championship held at Ballarat last weekend offered up some mixed results for the Gippsland Bowls Region teams, but were highlighted by two great wins by the women’s team.
The women were graded in silver section two and recorded two wins from their three matches, the loss to the unbeaten Goulburn Murray who progressed to the silver finale.
The ladies began their campaign with a hard fought 62-61 win over Wimmera at the Ballarat Memorial Sports Bowling Club.
Gippsland was victorious in two of the rinks, Glynis Bugeja, Pamela Carter, Margery Nathan and Jan Morton leading the way winners 24-16, while young gun Ayla Romanin, Gail McKenzie, Kirstie White and Wendy Campbell prevailed in the final ends 19-16.
Another nail-biting victory for the Gippsland girls in round two followed, beating Mornington Peninsula at the Victoria Bowling Club 59-58.
Bugeja, Carter, Nathan and Morton were again to the fore winning 24-17, with Julie Simpson, Margaret Scenery, Margaret Brandhoj and Joanne Martin playing steady bowls to record a 20-14 win.
Gippsland was certainly competitive in the match against Goulburn Murray, despite not winning a rink, going down 76-63.
Metro West defeated Goulburn Murray in the silver grand final 58-55, while the gold division was taken out by Sandbelt who defeated Ovens and Murray 57-50.
The going was a bit tough for the men but they were victorious in one of their three matches.
In round one they went down to Wimmera, 73-51, in their silver section two fixture.
Adam Easton, Stewart Pyers, Brad Montant and Brendan Addison escaped with a 23-23 draw the highlight of the match from a Gippsland perspective.
In round two Gippsland defeated Mornington Peninsula, 58-53 despite only winning the one rink.
The effort of James McCausland, Nigel Plunkett, Phillip Crowder and Bradley Lancaster, impressively winning 23-13, enough to get the Gippslanders over the line.
Eastern Ranges humbled Gippsland in round three, dominating them 81-29.
Eastern Ranges carried their form into the silver finale, proving too good for Geelong, victors 63-44.
In the gold final Metro West overcome a gallant Northern Gateway, surging late to be victorious 57-43.
