Tethering on the brink of defeat, David Beardmore, Terry Kelly, Graham Edwards and Ethan Higgins (s) staged a remarkable comeback to win eight ends in succession and wrap up the Ballarat Highlands Region men’s fours championship.
Representing Highlands, Gisborne’s Beardmore, Kelly and Higgins were pleased to welcome Kyneton Golf’s topliner Edwards into their ranks for the title bid.
The final extended for nearly three and a half hours under lights at Ballarat Bowling Club on Thursday night, with the Highlands quartet opposed by the strong Sebastopol lineup of Murray Gannon, John Garvin, Paul Lovell and Fred Reus (s).
After nine ends, Sebastopol appeared to be in control with a 10-2 advantage, but the Highlands quartet lifted and scored 16 shots to nil to lead 18-10, before conceding three on the final end for a 18-13 tally and a berth in the State Championships at the end of April.
MIXED PAIRS THRILLER
The regional mixed pairs championship final played at Kyneton over 18 ends on Sunday was an absolute thriller, requiring an extra end to determine the outcome.
Gisborne’s Dot Evans and Ethan Higgins led early until Buninyong’s Yvonne Clark and Keith Chapman gained a ‘six’ on the fifth end; there was little between the two sides from then on.
Under pressure, the Gisborne pair drew three shots on the final end to force a tie.
On the extra end, Higgins played an upshot to disturb the head, and the jack rolled in the vicinity of a Gisborne bowl; Chapman coolly drew shot with his final bowl and Higgins could not change the outcome with his last bowl.
Kyneton will host the region’s men’s singles, pairs and triples finals on Sunday, March 27.
