Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance 2 are the only unbeaten teams after three rounds of the Gippsland Bowls Region weekend superleague competition.
Bairnsdale sits on top of the ladder after a 20-shot win over Sale 1 at home, prevailing easily 64-44.
All three rinks went the way of the reigning premier, led by James Clay, Stewart Pyers, James McCausland and Neil Watts who saluted 22-13.
Other winners were Brian Casey, Peter Rowe, Danny Prazza and the masterful Stephen Sroczynski (21-17) and Adam Easton, Geoff Woodward, Trevor Melotte and Brad Montant (21-14).
Both Lakes Entrance Bowling Club premier teams sit inside the top three after hard fought victories at home last Saturday.
Lakes Entrance 2 sits an impressive second on the table after beating Maffra 56-49.
Lakes 2 was victorious on just the one rink, the effort of Mark Campbell, Lee Burt, Boyd McPhee and Glenn Barker in winning 22-14 enough to ensure victory.
Michael Bratt, Johannes Kool, Maurie Carroll and Harley Johnson worked hard to escape with a draw in their clash with Maffra’s Glenn Crawford, Lewis Marston, Lyal and Michael Roberts.
Maffra’s Glenn Conduit, Geoff Bedggood, Jeffrey Wheaton and Craig Anderson won their rink narrowly 15-14.
Lakes Entrance 1 got over the line a little more comfortably, eclipsing Stratford late 74-60 after a torrid battle throughout the afternoon.
Eric Spence, Margaret Brandhoj, Jim Northe, Joanne Martin (24-16) and Julie Simpson, Daniel Roberts, Scott Davidson and Daffy Rawlings (29-13) were all among the winners.
Stratford’s Phillip Crowder, Colin Russell, Michael Dee and Leonie Flynn continued their outstanding start to the season, getting a rink back, winning for the third consecutive week, 31-21.
Lindenow won its second match of the season and currently occupies fourth place on the table, beating Orbost in an enthralling contest at the Lindenow Recreation Reserve, 67-63.
Peter Baylis, Alan Pincott, Michael Giddings and Stephen Brill dominated, easy winners 30-16, well supported by the quality four of Dick Johnstone, Allan Dawson, Phillip Manning and Neil Plunkett who had a 24-15 win.
The Orbost combination skippered by Brad Lancaster, who teamed with Bruce Kneebone, Gwen Hatcher and Peter Coulton, scored a decisive 32-13 win, almost securing the day for the Green Machine.
Metung scored its second win and sits in fifth spot on the ladder after triumphing on the long trip to Heyfield.
Metung won all three rinks in its 66-46 victory, with all three combinations getting the job done in workmanlike fashion.
Winning fours were Chris Wain, Mal Macpherson, Ray Crossley, Ronald McDonald (25-17), Brett Shields, Kevin Watson, David Roberts, Wayne Jones (23-16), Attila Safron, Adrian Culph, Frank Ryan and Kieran Casey (18-13).
Sale 2 welcomed Howitt Park, both sides looking to post their first win, but it wasn’t to be the match ending in a 56-56 draw as sides traded the lead all afternoon.
The Parkers won two of the rinks, Ken Lumbley, Gerry Dwyer, Martin Van Elst and Ken Watts getting home late 17-16, with Carla Proud, Jim Shanahan, Heather and Bill Cornwall easy victors 26-12.
The effort of Sale 2 players David Scott, Denis Madeley, Peter Leslie and Pamela Carter, who were victorious 28-13, was enough to salvage a draw in a contest where both sides would have been worth winners.
On Sunday West Sale prevailed at home over Paynesville, who haven’t hit their straps yet, winning 68-59.
West was led by Shane Higgins, Paul Swarski, Nick Wilson and Dennis O’Keefe, the dominant four on the day victorious 26-17.
Bernie Dillon, Matt Moulton, Russell Lambourn and Brendan Addison scrambled over the line 20-18, with Peter Fiske, Darren Aurisch, Darren Martin and George Lambos striking back for Paynesville winning 24-22.
THIS WEEK
Orbost v West Sale; Metung v Howitt Park; Sale 1 v Lindenow; Maffra v Sale 2; Paynesville v Heyfield. Stratford v Bairnsdale; Lakes Entrance 1 v Lakes Entrance 2.
