No surprise, it’s Romsey versus Kyneton Golf in the Highlands area division 1 bowls pennant grand final for the 2023-2024 season.
These two combatants finished first and second on the ladder, and are set for a real showdown in the grand final to be played at Lancefield Bowling Club this Sunday, March 10.
Romsey is chasing its first ever top grade (division 1) premiership, while reigning premier Kyneton Golf is primed to make another bid to add to its illustrious grand final winning record.
This Saturday, Kyneton will host the division 2 grand final – also between Romsey and Kyneton Golf – and the division 3 grand final between Lancefield and Gisborne(3).
The Saturday – Sunday grand finals promise to provide a fitting finale to the Highlands Saturday pennant season.
Highlands match committee chair, John Coates, confirmed the Kyneton and Lancefield venues for the grand finals yesterday.
There was plenty of speculation on the likely venue for the division 1 grand final, and Lancefield is thrilled to be chosen for the big occasion on Sunday.
Renowned turf consultant Craig Vincent will be working hard to ensure the Kyneton and Lancefield greens are in peak condition for the grand finals.
First and second semi-finals in all divisions were completed last Saturday, and preliminary finals took place at Kyneton on Sunday. There were no real surprise outcomes, with favourable weather conditions on both days.
ROMSEY READY
“We’re not getting ahead of ourselves,” Romsey coach Garry Templar said after the Redbacks defeated Kyneton Golf by 18 shots in the second semi-final on Saturday. Romsey earned the home semi-final by finishing on top of the ladder.
“I’m glad, after four years in finals, we finally cracked it for a good win.
“Kyneton Golf is a very good, competitive side, but we are certainly ready for Sunday’s grand final,” Templar said.
With just three shots the difference at the halfway break, the coach said the fightback by Matt Brundell’s rink against Adrian Plowman was very important in the second stanza.
This helped take the pressure off as the other rinks with Aaron Young and Cam Austin in charge continued to play well, with the overall lead extended to secure a 64-46 victory.
Young won by 14 shots against Ray Wilkinson, and Austin finished 12 ahead of Toby Barker.
Among the spectators supporting Romsey was Moonee Valley Premier League player Nathan Lynch (Templar’s grandson) who said he was impressed by the standard; Lynch is playing in the Premier League grand final.
Romsey recruited strongly in the lead-up to this season, and the chance to make history and be part of Romsey’s first-ever division 1 premiership team is there on Sunday.
Last season, Romsey Cricket Club broke a 40-year premiership drought, and community support for the Redbacks should be at a very high level on Sunday. Expect a large crowd at Lancefield Park.
GOLF IN FORM
Kyneton Golf can be likened to a large close-knit family, with an abundance of very experienced quality players who can rise to the occasion when it matters. Some have enjoyed considerable success at other clubs.
Golf will be happy to be back on a grass surface instead of synthetic, and in the last home and away round Golf won at Lancefield by 38 shots.
In the preliminary final on Sunday, Golf defeated arch-rival Kyneton by 12 shots and the big occasion should not worry them.
“Since 2000, we’ve been a pretty successful club,” long-time Golf secretary John Trounce said, referring to a multitude of premierships and finals successes across the board.
“We’re a chance of getting a double at the weekend,” Trounce said, though he felt Romsey was entitled to go into the division 1 grand final as favourite.
Kyneton Golf’s division 2 side won the knockout first semi-final against Gisborne by 13 shots, then held off a strong challenge by Kilmore in the preliminary final.
Romsey’s division 2 side thrashed Kilmore 81-43 in a one-sided second semi-final.
In division 3, top side Lancefield struggled initially at home to Gisborne(3) in the second semi-final as the visitors soon opened up a 20-shot margin.
By the tea break it was one shot the difference, and on resumption the Tigers gained multiple numbers across the board, eventually winning by 14 shots. Keith Webb’s rink staged a huge comeback to win 31-15.
Gisborne(3) regrouped on Sunday, defeating Romsey by 16 shots, with the Redbacks coming off an all fours up victory over Kilmore.
The Ballarat-Highlands board, headed by Ian Guymer, and the Highlands area match committee wish the grand finalists well for their matches.
ALL THE SCORES
Scores from Highlands area semi-finals and preliminary finals matches over the weekend were:
Division 1 second semi-final – Romsey 64 d Kyneton Golf 46: M. Brundell 15 lost to A. Plowman 23, C. Austin 22 d A. Barker 10, A. Young 27 d R. Wilkinson 13. First semi-final – Kyneton 68 d Gisborne 46: M. Smoljo 19 d P. Williams 15, N. Jamieson 26 d T. Wylie 16, Ant. Mathison 23 d A. Higgins 15.
Division 2 second semi – Romsey 81 d Kilmore 43: J. Beaumont 23 d M. Johnson 22, G. Marshall 26 d A. Langdon 10, S. Mayger 34 d L. Hodgson 11.
First semi-final – Kyneton Golf 60 d Gisborne 47: J. Trounce 12 lost to R.Newton 16, R. Buckley 24 d B. Wylie 15, C. Scott 24 d K. Jarred 16.
Division 3 second semi-final – Lancefield 74 d Gisborne(3) 60: K. Webb 31 d T. Woodlock 15, G. Stewart 17 lost to C. Butterley 25, P. Shannon 26 d V. Cyrulo 20. First semi-final – Kilmore 40 lost to Romsey 65: A. Jowett 18 lost to C. Dean 22, C. Wight 14 lost to J. Boyce 28, D. Boyd 14 lost to M. Gilligan 15. :
PRELIMINARY FINALS
Division 1: Kyneton Golf 63 d Kyneton 51: A. Plowman 19 drew with Ant. Mathison 19, A. Barker 20 d M. Smoljo 17; R. Wilkinson 24 d N. Jamieson 15.
Division 2: Kilmore 49 lost to Kyneton Golf 56: M. Johnson 17 d C. Scott 16, A. Langdon 16 lost to J. Trounce 20, L. Hodgson 16 lost to . Buckley 20.
Division 3: T. Woodlock 18 lost to M. Gilligan 9, C. Butterley 25 d C. Dean 14, V. Cyrulo 20 d J. Boyce 14.
GRAND FINALS
Highlands midweek bowls grand finals will be played at Kyneton from 10.15 today (Tuesday).
In division 1, the strong Gisborne play side Romsey in a repeat of the second semi-final
The division 2 grand final is between Broadford and Woodend, and Romsey play Diggers Rest in division 3.
In the three preliminary finals last Tuesday, only one was close.
Division 1: Romsey 60 d Kilmore 42: S.Mayger 20 d P. Skehan 16, C. Austin 24 d S. Hawkless 11, G. Templar 16 d D. Noonan 15.
Division 2: Woodend 56 d Gisborne 51: N.Bickerdyke 25 d V. Noble 17, G. Symons 7 lost to R. Newton 21, T. Lennie 24 d D. Wesney 13.
Division 3: Diggers Rest 45 d Macedon 19: T. Odgers 26 d C. Coogan 10, J. Higgins 19 d B. San 9.
