Bill West
Macedon led from go to whoa against Diggers Rest to clinch the Highlands bowls division two pennant on Saturday.
In windy conditions at Kyneton, Macedon established an early lead with multiple numbers to the Ian Guymer and Bernie Halpin rinks.
Diggers Rest, finishing on top of the ladder, had lost to Macedon by seven shots in the second semi-final, then annihilated Romsey in the preliminary final, and many predicted a very tight grand final.
For a lengthy period Macedon led by between 15 and 20 shots, and almost every time Diggers Rest looked like getting numbers, it did not eventuate.
While his four went down by five shots to Bob Reidy, Gary Dickinson was instrumental in restricting the opposition’s numbers at key moments.
The Ballarat-Highlands Champions of Champions quarter-finals and semi-finals took place at Kyneton at the same time as the division two grand final (division one and three grand finals had been completed the previous Saturday with the respective premiers Kyneton Golf and Diggers Rest).
Macedon ended up with a 22-shot margin (68-46) on Saturday, exactly the same score as in the division one grand final.
Halpin, who had previously played with Lancefield and Trentham, said he was not sure what to expect when enticed to play at Macedon this season, but he had been impressed with the improvement shown by some of the relatively new bowlers at the club who had shown definite improvement.
Dickinson has had a fine career at Gisborne, Lancefield and Macedon, as well as being a key contributor at association and region level.
Ian Guymer’s rink excelled with an 18-shot victory against strong opposition, and Guymer – in his capacity as region president – commended Diggers Rest for being a pacesetter in division two.
He also commended Kyneton on providing such an ideal facility, and praised the Macedon players on their overall performance in the finals.
MATCH DETAILS
Macedon 68 d Macedon 46 – Shane Doran, Graeme Hobbs, Steven Graham, Ian Guymer (s) 31 d Devendra Stucka, David Odgers, Shane Crimmins, Mark Clohesy 13; Scott Gillman, Gregg Kennedy, Ross Stapleton, Bernie Halpin 22 d Scott Browne, Tricia Odgers, Keith Geisler, Rod Treweek 13, Glen Humphrys, Philip Nathan, Gayle Hobbs, Gary Dickinson 15 lost to Bill Debble, Raelene Beckett, Andy Macdonald, Bob Reidy (20).
