The fairytale is now reality! Fourth-placed Lancefield has shocked the bowls world by winning successive finals matches against Romsey, Gisborne and Kyneton Golf to emerge as 2021-2022 Highlands division one premiers. The first time in history the Tigers have won successive pennants at this top level.
The grand final on a fast green at Kyneton on Saturday was an epic battle, with the outcome in the balance throughout.
With Lancefield ahead of the strongly favoured Kyneton Golf by two shots and just three of the 63 ends to play, it was a match winning bombshell when the Tigers gained an unexpected ‘six’ to catapult Bev Holmes’ rink into a 17-17 tie with Toby Barker, who had earlier excelled to lead 16-7 as Golf surged to a seven-shot overall lead.
A Keith Webb ‘wick’ off a wide bowl changed the head in favour of the Tigers, then Golf’s fortunes disintegrated as further bowls went down. Dave Safstrom’s eventual shout of ‘six’ echoed across the green, making one side elated, and the other distraught.
Golf needed a miracle on the remaining two ends to pick up eight shots and tie, and it did not happen despite potential for a while.
Emotions spilled over as Lancefield players and supporters realised the side many had written off after failing against Broadford, Kilmore and Diggers Rest had a bonus premiership. And three wins for the season against Golf.
The large attendance with three grand finals at the one venue certainly saw contests, with Kyneton Golf missing out in the ‘big one’, but scrambling home by a solitary shot on the last end against Romsey in a dramatic division 2 contest.
Gisborne rallied from a slow start to defeat Diggers Rest by seven shots in the division 3 grand final.
In the main match fortunes fluctuated early, and Golf’s inability to take control overall led to a halftime deficit. This was wiped in the first three ends on resumption.
At the break the 17-3 lead by Jeff Holmes’ rink against Adrian Plowman was decisive, but Golf’s ace rink with Graham Edwards in charge, loomed as a big threat with a 15-7 margin over Chris Jolly.
Ultimately, Jolly’s performance to fight back under pressure and finish just six shots down was a key factor in deciding which side became premiers.
While skipper Holmes played well, is third John Parks was on fire again with a masterly exhibition of draw bowling, the four ending up 14 shots up.
This Lancefield side is nowhere near as talented as some of the Tigers previous premiership combinations (losing eight from last year’s premier side did not help) in Central Highlands).
‘Have fun and enjoy yourself’ was the consistent message, and look what happened! For Peter White (ex-Sunbury) and big improver Howard Matthews, it was their first flag with Lancefield.
Arguably, the current finals series may well rate as being Lancefield’s greatest performance, taking all factors into account.
After the grand final, Ballarat Highlands Region director Gary Dickenson congratulated both sides on the way they played the final, and handed out premiership medallions to the Tigers, with first-year president Jeff Smith elated to receive the premiership shield.
For Kyneton Golf, this was a missed opportunity. Some players who excelled in the big semi-final victory over Gisborne were not quite as effective this time. But Golf is resilient, and can bounce back next season.
GRAND FINAL SCORES
DIVISION 1
Lancefield 64 d Gisborne 56: Gary Choate, Keith Webb, David Safstrom, Bev Holmes (s) 17 tied with Brendan Plowman, Graeme Williamson, Barry Godbolt, Toby Barker 17; Peter White, Gordon Charles, Steve Climas, Chris Jolly (s) lost to John McQualter, Glen Gascoyne, Steven Taylor, Graham Edwards 27; Bill West, Howard Matthews, John Parks, Jeff Holmes (s) 26 d Rick Seymour, Ricky Turner, Ray Wilkinson, Adrian Plowman (s) 12.
DIVISION 2
Kyneton Golf 56 d Romsey 55. Des Kirwan, Paul Strang, Colin Schmidt, Colin Scott (s) 20 lost to Robert Wilson, Terry Brady, Graeme Cuthbert, John Beaumont 22; Antony Dibella, Paul Tobin, Greg Heathcote, Peter Williams 19 d Bernie Cruise, Maree and Glen Marshall, Andrew Laing (s) 13; John Butsclaar, Barry Long, Joy Godbolt, John Trounce (s) 17 lost to Rod Schwarzenberg, Rogers Kosulins, Kathy Kirwan, Simon Mayger (s) 20.
DIVISION 3
Gisborne3 74 d Diggers Rest 67. Tony Hedley, Alan Pollard, Robert Black, Tom Woodlock (s) 26 d Leo Wels, Frank Kremar, Peter Marinier, Ernie Nolan (s) 17; John Dale, David Campbell, Dominic Varrese, Ron Formica (s) 22 lost to Stephen Hauser, Gerry Gruber, Ross Grant, Shane Crimmins (s) 25; Judy Butterley, Roland James, Chris Butterley, Rob Paterson (s) 26 d Devandra Shuka, Rhonda Shears, David Odgers, Fay Bonnici (s) 25.
