Saturday Grand Finals Report
West Gippsland Bowls Division
Saturday 27 March 2021 Saturday Pennant Grand Final Report
Whilst Grand Final day started with morning rain it was not a problem for West Gippsland Bowls Division as all games were scheduled to be played indoors at Traralgon and under the domes at Morwell. Excellent conditions for the players and spectators alike who were able to experience top quality bowls in pleasant conditions away from the intermittent rain.
Division 1
At Morwell Traralgon shot away to an early lead against Newborough who pegged them back before gaining the upper hand and maintaining a buffer over Traralgon for the remainder of the game to repeat their victory of last year and revenge for their narrow loss in the semi-final.
Nosha Michaels and his rink of Charlie Ward, Jo-Anne Michaels and George Lambos had a great return to form with a match winning 33 – 13 win over Traralgon stalwart Matt Ferrari and his rink of Derek Hewling, Ian Hilsley and Wil McIlwain. They were assisted by Kevin Lovett and his team of Brian Carpenter, Rod Lewis and Neale Houston who won 25 – 22 over the previously undefeated rink of Michael Yacoub and his team of Ron Sherlock, Pat Trewin and Phil Mustoe. After the match bowlers were talking about how well Brian Carpenter led on the day to give Lovett a flying start.
James Scullin and his rink of Chris Ward, Abe Roeder and Vin McIlwain were the best Traralgon rink winning 20 – 15 over Paul Sherman and his rink of Tony Knipping, Barry Daley and Scott Jones/ Wayne Lynch and his rink of Kevin Enguell, Shane Chapman and Ian Kirkup won 21 – 12 over Alan Grubb and his rink of Bob Goldie, Ryan Marston and Craig Thornton.
Newborough goes on to play South Gippsland Bowls Division winners Inverloch on April 10 at Korumburra to determine the Strzelecki Region Champion and a place in the State Champion Pennant team finals at Moama later in the year.
Newborough 85 defeated Traralgon 76
Division 2
There was a rematch of their interrupted Semi Final which saw Moe score a win when the match resumed. Morwell came to Traralgon determined to win and return to Division 1. Moe had other ideas and were firmly focused on gaining a win and a return to Division 1 where they had been a fixture for many years with a proud history.
Young gun Jayde Leech and his team of Col Carmichael, Jan Rudy and Banger Harvey got the ball rolling for Moe with a stunning 39 – 8 victory over Ron Lyfield and his well performed rink of Chris Goldsbrough, Brian Kingsley and Shashi Bhatti. Ian Caines and his rink of Bob Rennie, John Wasiukiewicz and Alex Muirhead turned the tables in a return match with their victor of last week Steve Collins and his rink of Laurie Melhuish, Russell Williams and John Osborne as they won 37 – 26. Sandy Caines and his rink of Rohan Willcock, David Mander and Barry Hawkett continued their good work for Moe last week for a 33 – 14 successive win over Nathan Cook and his rink of Wayne Bishop, Keith Gadsby and Michael Weatherall.
The lone Morwell winner was David Cook and his team of Bernie Detering, Mike Arnold and Darren Cullen with a 39 – 15 win over Stuart Caines and his rink of Les Stolarik, Michael Smogavec and Ted Kuklinsky. It was not enough to bridge the gap and Moe had a resounding victory and a triumphant return to Division 1.
Moe 124 defeated Morwell 87
Division 3
At Morwell Traralgon (3) reversed their Semi-final result over Thorpdale. Once more Bob Dykstra and his rink of Jedd Ladgrove, Elaine Swan and Max Cuming led the way with a 32 – 11 over Brendan Jennings and his rink of Alan McLure, Darron Fraser and Denis Gunn. May Cross and her rink of Alan Keam, John Kong and David Karsky had a 24 – 18 win over Ben Powell and his rink of Ian Simpson, Ron Mackie and David Ferguson. Norbert Schroeter and his rink of Jim Wilson, Greg Swan and Roger Davey had a 23 – 18 win over Ross Kennedy and his rink of Wendy Jennings, Ross Pethybridge and Shane Chambers.
Danny Vanzuylen and his rink of Brian O’Connell, Graeme Edwards and Scott Jennings was the lone Thorpdale winner with a 26 – 19 win over Trevor James and his rink of Matt Ogilvie, Brian Johnson and Ian Wills. Traralgon (3) now return to Division 2.
Traralgon (2) 98 Thorpdale 73
Division 4
Newborough (3) travelled to Traralgon to take on Yarragon. Charlie Cadby and his rink of Dave Madden, Steve Cunningham and Joy Cadby led the way for Newborough (3) with a 46 – 10 win over Marjan Pazek and his rink of Graeme Roberts, Gary Green and Murray Grigg. Michael Holroyd and his rink of Josh Kennedy, Maurie Ludlow and Heather Mooney won 40 – 9 over Sam Mazza and his rink of Lionel Deane, Ross McDermott and Kevin McLaren. Peter Policha and his rink of Marcia Evans, Wayne Russell and Chris Cunningham won 24 – 21 over Jarrod Grigg and his rink of Trevor Griffin, Gordon Wright and Bevan Romans.
Richard Polmear and his rink of Pam Jones, David Swingler and Harry Langres were the lone Yarragon winners with a 23 – 19 win over Eagle Edwards with his rink of Mary Whelan, Carmel Goss and Vern Verhagen. Newborough (3) were big winners and will return to Division 3 next year.
Newborough (3) 129 Yarragon 63
Division 5
At Morwell resulting in Newborough (4) and Morwell Club (2) being tied at the allotted 75 ends. This was the second extra end playoff in a row for Newborough (4) and they managed to win with skipper Jim Cuthbertson not bowling his last bowl as Newborough (4) held an unbeatable lead if he did not upset the head. Cuthbertson and his team of Kevin Myrteza, Peter Wonnacott and Ann-Mary Ryan won 28 – 24 over Beryl Noblett and her team of Alan Campbell, Stan Morgan and Sue Karleusa. Ken Bechaz and his rink of Ruth Verhagen, Lyn Madden and Wally Bechaz drew three shots on the playoff end to tie the score 24 – 24 with Alan Shepley and his rink of Jody Capp, Geoff Unwin and Bernie Marino.
The sole winner for Morwell Club (2) was Gail Rejmer and her team of Steve Kilpatrick, Daryl Martin and Barry Flanigan who won 28 – 25 over Rod Dixon and his rink of Phil Zappelli, Charlie Amos and Wally Smith leaving Newborough (4) the winners and they will return to Division 4 next season.
Newborough (4) 77 defeated Morwell Club (2) 76
Division 6
At Morwell playing alongside the Division 1 final Newborough (5) were aiming to make it four winners for Newborough but were unable to defeat a Longwarry (2) team determined to move up the grades to Division 5. Gerard Mitchell and his team of Reg Dunn, Judy Eastwell and Mark Serong had a 47 – 17 win Betty Williams and her team of Sheila Derooij, Stuart Wilson and Chris Wagstaff. Simon Counsel and his rink of Graeme Hanks, Sean Garrity and Vicki Hanks had a 24 – 23 win over Joan Lee and her team of Ray Mellon, Lyn Lowe and Herman Jacobs.
Longwarry (2) 71 defeated Newborough (5) 40
Michael Holroyd
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Saturday Pennant Grand Final Results 29 February 2020
Division 1 Newborough 100 Traralgon 95 at Morwell
Newborough Club Manager Alan Grubb was the hero when he trailed the jack with his opponent Matt Ferrari holding four shots to give his team an eight shot turn around as he now held four shots and the game unless Ferrari could gain shot with his last bowl. Ferrari drove and was unable to change the situation and Newborough with four shots went on to win by five shots 100 – 95 to end what had been an entertaining game at Morwell Bowling Club.
Alan Grubb and his team of Alan Ryan, JoAnne Michaels and George Lambos played catch up bowls all day against Matt Ferrari’s rink of Kevin Enguell, Abe Roeder and Vin McIlwain. Early in the day Ferrari lead 7 – 1, Grubb pegged him back to 6 – 7, Ferrari won four ends to lead 15 – 6 and built his lead to 24 – 12 with five ends to go and Grubb reduced the gap to 6 shots with his four shots on the last end.
Nosha Michaels and his Newborough rink of Charlie Ward, Michael Weatherall and John Backman lost five shots on the first end against Ian Kirkup and his rink of Ron Sherlock, Ian Hilsely and Will McIlwain before fighting back and trailing 15 – 17 after fifteen ends. Michaels won nine of the next ten ends to score a resounding 32 – 18 victory which helped get Newborough back into the game when they were fourteen shots behind at afternoon tea.
Kevin Lovett and his Newborough rink of Tony Knipping, Craig Thornton and Neale Houston went shot for shot early against James Scullin and his rink of Derek Hewling, Sean Chapman and Chris Ward trailling 8 – 9 after nine ends and falling behind 9 – 15 before gaining a five and a two to lead 16 – 15 and were never headed going away to a 29 – 23 win to help put Newborough in a winning position.
The remaining Newborough rink of Paul Sherman lead 12 – 5 after nine ends however after losing nine shots including a five fell behind 12 – 14 and were struggling at 13 – 20 after 17 ends and they fought back over the remaining ends winning five single ends which stopped Traralgon from building a big lead.
The crowd at Morwell saw some excellent bowls on the day, particularly over the last ten ends where the score changed regularly with Newborough getting their nose in front and Traralgon pegging them back before Newborough went in to the last end leading by one shot only for Matt Ferrari to hold four shots and seemingly a win for Traralgon before Alan Grubb managed to trail the jack to give Newborough four shots in a big eight shot turn around which Ferrari was unable to change with his last bowl in a final which went down to the wire at Morwell.
Division 2 Warragul 100 Moe 80 at Traralgon
After being the dominant side for much of the year Moe started well with Sandy Caines and his rink of Leigh Dodd, Frank Farrugia and Banger Harvey gaining six on the first end over Clive Padgham and his rink of Dvid Alderman, Jim Moyle and Peter Gallasch who went on to win the rink 27 – 23 as they came back from 1 = 13 down to win 27 – 23.
Bill Clappers and his rink of Ian Belling, Graeme Davis and Pat Hammond gained an early lead over the Moe team of Ted Kuklinsky and his rink of Michael Rudy, Les Stolarik and Jan Rudy and held sway for most of the day, however, Kuklinsky fought back late in the day with Clappers winning 19 – 17 in a close result.
Ken Scammell and his Warragul rink of Des TGephens, Paul Simmons and Jim Power built their lead consistently throughout the day winning 33 – 13 over Jayde Leech and his rink of Michael Smogavec, Bob Rennie and Ian Caines to help put Warragul in a winning position..
Stuart Caines and his Moe rink of Col Carmichael, Barry Hawkett and Alex Muirhead were the only Moe winners with a 27 – 20 victory over Andrew Glover and his rink of John Vickerman, Dave Smith and Janette Gallasch.
Warragul battled early, however, by afternoon tea they had built a solid lead which they were able to maintain for the rest of the day as they went on to win by twenty shots.
Division 3 Traralgon RSL (2) 97 Thorpdale 95 at Traralgon
Brendon Smiles was the hero for Traralgon RSL (2) after they were tied with Thorpdale after 100 ends requiring all teams to play an extra end starting at the end where they completed their 25th end. When he went to play his last bowl Thorpdale held a narrow lead from the other three rinks and Danny Vanzuylen was holding five shots at the head after the RSL lead Titch Hore started with two bowls close to the jack before Thorpdale moved the jack and built a wall of three bowls in front of the jack. It is an old saying that you must be up when you are down and not too wide as contact is essential in order to change the head and Smiles played an aggressive bow which somehow found the gap and rolled on to the jack giving Traralgon RSL an upset win over a Thorpdale side who had been top of the ladder most of the year.
In other inks Gordon Asbury from RSL lost narrowly 26 – 28 against Ben Powell, Max Gibbins had a solid 27 – 21 win over Ross Kennedy and John Farquhar lost 25 – 27 to Brendan Jennings.
Traralgon RSL now go into Division 2 with teams in Division 1 and 2 for the first time and is a great effort considering that for many years their top team was in Division 2 and they are now in Divisions 1 and 2 after making the finals in Division 1 for the first time this season.
Division 4 Traralgon (4) 88 Garfield (2) 63 at Trafalgar
Traralgon were lead by Pat Trewin and her rink of Alan Keam, Richard Johnson and Stan Rycak with a great 37 – 6 win over a luckless Bob Lamport giving Traralgon a 31 shot buffer which the other Garfield teams were unable to bridge in what proved to be a very low scoring game across the other three rinks with Tony Colwell Traralgon losing to Judy Pocklington 18 – 21, Jim Barling Traralgon winning 20 – 18 over Don Knight and May Cross Traralgon lost 13 – 18 to Rod James.
Division 5 Morwell (3) 78 Morwell Club (2) 71
Morwell Club lead early, however, after afternoon tea Morwell got on top and went away to a 78 – 71 victory with Linda Gurney winning 25 – 22 over Beryl Noblett and Trevor Curtis defeating Brian Smith 28 – 23 with the lone Morwell Club winner Tess Borg winning 26 – 25 over Jack Prendergast giving Morwell teams in Divisions 2, 3, 4 and 5 next season.
Division 6 Churchill 44 Longwarry (2) 37
Churchill finally escaped Division 6 with their narrow win over Longwarry after losing players through injury during the week.
Shirley Turner won 21 – 19 over Lloyd Maisey and Sean Peter defeated Gerard Mitchell 23 – 18 to provide Churchill with the opportunity to go into Division 5 and perhaps make it more attractive to gain members for the newest Club in the Division.
Newborough goes on to play Phillip Island at Traralgon on Saturday 14th March to see who represents Strzelecki Region at the State Pennant Playoffs.
