After plenty of pre-season speculation about Kyneton’s division one bowls prospects this season, the answer came with a convincing all fours up victory over Kyneton Golf on Saturday.
The influx of an array of new players, including proven skippers Greg Podesta (ex-Kangaroo Flat) and John O’Donnell, as well as much-travelled Glen Gascoyne and ‘Big G’ Graham Edwards (who were at Romsey last season and previously with Kyneton Golf) gave Kynton a much more in depth appearance.
An all fours up 24 shot victory against the reigning premiers on the on the Golf green was just what Kyneton’s hierarchy and suporters were hoping for.
Having the bye in the opening round, there’s good reason to feel Kyneton can only improve further as the season progresses.
Other sides often felt if they could contain Anthony Mathison’s rink they were well on the way to victory; that will no longer be the case.
Golf can certainly make the finals again.
Romsey, last season’s runners-up, did not get things all their own way against Lancefield who improved on their opening round effort at Kilmore.
The Redbacks won by 10 shots overall, with the Aaron Young versus Jeff Holmes battle a tie.
At home, Trentham lost by 14 shots to Kilmore, the only side with two victories.
In the remaining tussle, Diggers Rest edged out Broadford by four shits.
Ladder: Kilmore 30 points, Romsey 23, Kyneton 16, Diggers Rest 16, Gisborne 14, Broadford 10, Trentham 10, Kyneton Golf 8, Lancefield 1.
Third round matches this Saturday are:
Kyneton v Romsey.
Lancefield v Tentham.
Gisborne v Kyneton Golf.
Kilmore v Diggers Rest.
WIN BY 84 SHOTS
Mt Cottrell retuned to the competition after quite some years’ absence and its division 3 side chalked up an astonishing 84-shot victory over Trentham.
Other sides may be thinking Mt Cottrell is a genuine premiership prospect already.
Lancefield won by 28 shots aagainst Kilmore, and the other three matches in division three were all close, with winners being Woodend, Kyneton and Gisborne (4).
Woodend was certainly pleased to win 89-47 at home to Kyneton in division 2.
Kyneton Golf had a good win at Romsey, and Gisborne had five shots to spare at Broadford.
ALL THE SCORES
Scores from the second round of Highlands pennant bowls on Saturday were:
Division 1: Kyneton Golf 44 lost to Kyneton 68 — R. Wilkinson (s) 12 lost to G. Podesta 28; A. Plowman 16 lost to Ant. Mathison 19; A. Barker 16 lost to J. O’Donnell 21. Romsey 59 d Lancefield 49 — G. Templar 26 d H. Matthews 18, A. Young 16 tied with J. Holmes 16, M. Brundell 17 d G. Stewart 15. Trentham 53 lost to Kilmore 67 — A. Brockmuller 12 lost to L. Spargo 26, T. Cook 18 lost to M. McMaster 24, C. McKeone 23 d S. Fitzgerald 17.
Division 2: Romsey 54 lost to Kyneton Golf 66 — A. Laing 16 lost to R. Campbell 23, K. Campbell 18 lost to P. Marinier 20, C. Hodgson 20 d K. Icely 16; Woodend 89 d Kyneton 47 — M. Dornau 27 d M. Bermingham 19, N. Bickerdyke 32 d R. Ackroyd 10, S. Pickles 30 d J. Richmond 18; Broadford 52 lost to Gisborne 57 — A. Prince 19 d B. Wylie 17, L. Barnes 18 lost to D. Wesney 24, W. Fisher 15 lost to R. Newton 16. Macedon the bye.
Division: Lancefield 74 d Kilmore 46 — G. Charles 20 d S. Bloomfield 19, P. Shannon 30 d A. Jowett 8, K. Webb 18 d J. Fitzgerald 19; Gisborne (3) 50 lost to Kyneton 56 — C. Butterley 18 tied with J. Epps 18, R. Paterson 18 d J. Wells 17, T. Shearson 14 lost to L. Gent 21; Mt Cottrell 119 d Trentham 35 — R. Harrison 35 d Michelle Hinneberg 13, P. Wlodarczyk 39 d G. Laurie 12, D. Roche 45 d I. Bruton 10; Macedon 63 lost to Woodend 67 — B. Smith 30 d T. White 25, D. Summerfield 19 d A. Jewell 18, B. Swan 14 lost to J. Behan 24; Gisborne (4) 53 lost to Romsey 58 — S. Fallowfield 22 d M. Toy 18, J. Hunter 9 lost to J. Fryer 27, P. Wellington 22 d K. Day 13.
