There was plenty of drama in the two Central Highlands pennant bowls division one semi-finals on Saturday, with Lancefield’s late surge overcoming Kyneton, and Kyneton Golf eliminating a brave Romsey by three shots with the outcome alive to the final bowl.
Now the stage is set for a knockout preliminary final between arch rivals Kyneton and Kyneton Golf on Saturday, with Lancefield awaiting the winner in the grand final.
There were plenty of smiles around Trentham Bowling Club on Saturday night, with its two sides advancing straight into the division two and three grand finals.
Romsey’s division two side scored a 25-shots all fours up win over Gisborne – the biggest margin across the six semi-finals.
Ideal weather conditions and immaculate greens were just what the CHBD was hoping for on Saturday.
UP TO EXPECTATIONS
The Kyneton versus Lancefield clash at Kyneton Golf, with the winner’s prize a grand final berth, lived up to expectations, with very little between the sides throughout. The three rinks per club and 21 ends instead of 25 was a ‘first’ for division one finals.
There were some quality bowls, with heads changing constantly and spectators waiting for a decisive break either way.
It happened relatively late in proceedings, with Lancefield grabbing 5, 4 and 3 across the board to rock the reigning premiers and set up a buffer.
The Tigers had a big winner in Aaron Young rink, first off the green with a 14-shot margin over Andy McDonald; Jeff Holmes cut a big deficit against Peter Ryan back to eight.
Just four ends and the Tigers led by eight shots with Mark Smoljo (K) versus Peter Linehan (L) having the outcome in their hands.
Smoljo held seven shots on a long end but Linehan’s last bowl reduced it to three; five the difference with three ends left.
Lancefield immediately grabbed five shots on a somewhat scattered head and it was game over as far as winning was concerned. The final tally was 71-62.
SEE-SAW BATTLE
At Kyneton, it was Kyneton Golf versus Romsey – the Redbacks in their first-ever final.
A more composed Golf made a strong start, with some Romsey players struggling for consistency; an exception was skipper Matt Brundell who was in great touch to remain in touch with the strong Graham Edwards quartet.
Trailing 35-13 overall, it seemed to be Golf’s semi-final to lose and to Romsey’s credit a comeback eventuated.
Early cheering and elation had been almost one way, and this reversed, with Cam Austin’s ‘7’ against Adrian Plowman and Danny Fortune’s rink taking control lifting the Redbacks.
In the end, Golf was relieved to win by three shots, with Fortune having a chance to gain five shots with his final bowl. All three rinks ended up being close.
While Kyneton has had Golf’s measure this season, bowls can easily turn around and both sides are looking forward to the preliminary final at Lancefield on Saturday.
Trentham finished as ladder leaders in the two lower divisions, and lived up to this ranking with a six-shot win over Kyneton Golf at Lancefield, and 18 shots with all rinks up against Gisborne on the Kyneton road green.
Steve Mayger’s four won by 20 shots against Gisborne in a big performance, and now take on Kyneton Golf in the division two preliminary final.
Woodend worked hard to eliminate Romsey in division three and keep premiership hopes alive.
ALL THE SCORES
DIV. 1: Second semi-final – Lancefield 71 d Kyneton 62. A. Young 30 d A. Macdonald 16, J. Holmes 18 lost to P. Ryan 27, P. Linehan 23 d M. Smoljo 19.
First semi-final: Kyneton Golf 60 d Romsey 57. A. Barker 20 lost to D. Fortune 24, G. Edwards 18 d M. Brundell 14, A. Plowman 22 d C. Austin 19.
DIV. 2: Trentham 60 d Kyneton Golf 54. B. Halpin 15 d J. Trounce 12, N. Cooke 27 d A. Brockmuller 21, C. McKeone 18 lost to G. Williamson 21.
Romsey 71 d Gisborne 46. G. Cuthbert 18 d M. Wilson 15, S. Mayger 31 d R. Newton 11, R. Kozolins 22 d B. Wylie 20.
DIV. 3: Trentham 61 d Gisborne 43. D. Walsh 23 d J. Hunter 13, M. Hinneberg 21 d R. Black 15, I. Bruton 17 d T. Woodlock 15.
