SATURDAY PRELIM. FINALS REPORT

WEST GIPPSLAND BOWLS DIVISION

 Saturday Pennant Preliminary Final Report Saturday 20 March 2021

Preliminary Final day was a pleasant day for bowls with all of the grass greens running quite quickly in the dry conditions in front of some good crowds who witnessed some excellent bowls as the battle for a place in the Grand Final intensified.

Division 1

Newborough itching for another crack at Traralgon played Traralgon RSL at Traralgon with Kevin Lovett and his team of Brian Carpenter, Rod Lewis and Neale Houston having a stunning 41 – 10 win over the established Traralgon RSL rink of Morice Gardiner and his rink of Eric Warfe, Brendon Smiles and Alan Kanavan.  Paul Sherman and his rink of Tony Knipping, Barry Daley and Scott Jones won 24 – 16 over Ross Sizeland and his rink of Titch Hore, Dale Wilson and Terry Hunter.  Alan Grubb and his rink of Bob Goldie, Ryan Marston and Craig Thornton tied 22 – 22 with Beau Williamson and his rink of Tos McKenzie, Jeff Blythman and Maurie Sutcliffe.  The lone RSL winner was Rick Lukey and his team of Peter Barnes, Max Aumann and Kevin Durward who defeated Nosha Michaels and his rink of Charlie Ward, Jo-Anne Michaels and George Lambos 29 – 18 leaving Newborough the winners by 28 shots.

Newborough 105 defeated Traralgon RSL 77

Division 2

Prior to the Preliminary Final the Semi Final between Morwell and Moe resumed at Warragul on Saturday morning with Moe a few shots in front and 34 ends remaining.  Jayde Leech and his team of Col Carmichael, Jan Rudy and Banger Harvey returned to Warragul determined to put Moe into the Grand Final with a 34 – 18 win over David Cook and his team of Bernie Detering, Mike Arnold and Darren Cullen.  Sandy Caines and his rink of Rohan Willcock, David Mander and Barry Hawkett continued the good work for Moe with a 27 – 19 win over Nathan Cook and his rink of Wayne Bishop, Keith Gadsby and Michael Weatherall.  Stuart Caines and his rink of Les Stolarik, Michael Smogavec and Ted Kuklinsky made it three rinks up with a 21 – 15  win over Steve Collins and his rink of Laurie Melhuish, Russell Williams and John Osborne.  The sole winner for Morwell was Ron Lyfield and his rink of Chris Goldsbrough, Brian Kingsley and Shashi Bhatti with a 34 – 20 win over Ian Caines and his rink of Bob Rennie, John Wasiukiewicz and Alex Muirhead leaving Moe to advance to the Grand Final with a 16 shot victory.

Moe 102 defeated Morwell 86

Following the Warragul Semi Final Morwell headed to Drouin to take on Neerim District for the remaining Grand Final spot.  Ron Lyfield and his rink of Chris Goldsbrough, Brian Kingsley and Shashi Bhatti continued their good form from the morning with a 35 – 11 win over Neil Adams and his rink of Robert Cook, Chris Hogan and Angus McGillivray.  Steve Collins and his rink of Laurie Melhuish, Russell Williams and John Osborne won 29 – 11 over Peter Throup and his team of Karren Sheers, Gerry Englestad and Pat Fraser-Aurisch.  David Cook and his team of Bernie Detering, Mike Arnold and Darren Cullen won 29 – 14 over Ross Pollard and his team of Col McKay, Jim Fallon and Ray Watts.  Nathan Cook and his rink of Wayne Bishop, Keith Gadsby and Michael Weatherall completed the clean sweep with a 20 – 17 win over Trevor Kuhnell and his rink of Ray Throup, Tony Thornton and Peter Brooks.

Morwell 113 defeated Neerim District 56

Division 3

Traralgon (3) played Warragul (2) at Newborough with Bob Dykstra and his rink of Jedd Ladgrove, Elaine Swan and Max Cuming leading the way with a 28 – 17 win over Noel Rubenstein and his rink of Ron Collins, Elsie Hefford and Ian McCartney.  Norbert Schroeter and his rink of Jim Wilson, Greg Swan and Roger Davey won 26 – 16 over Dave Smith and his rink of Kerri Currie, Matt Draisma and Paul Simmons.  Trevor James and his rink of Matt Ogilvie, Brian Johnson and Ian Wills won 26 – 23 over Bob Currie and his rink of Russ Carrick, Linda McCoy and Gabrielle Draisma.  Traralgon (3) completed the clean sweep with May Cross and her rink of Alan Keam, John Kong and David Karsky defeating Brian Kennedy and his rink of Ken Landman, Ken Brown and Ian Belling.

Traralgon (3) 104 defeated Warrragul 0 – 78.

Division 4

Newborough (3) travelled to Traralgon to take on Morwell (3).  Charlie Cadby and his rink of Dave Madden, Steve Cunningham and Joy Cadby lead the way for Newborough (3) with a 26 – 11 win over Ian Wilson and his rink of Ray Whittacker, David O’Reilly and Graham Hutchinson.  Michael Holroyd and his rink of Josh Kennedy, Maurie Ludlow and Heather Mooney won 32 – 24 over Trevor Curtis and his rink of Alan Wells, Julie Klein and Max Duncan.  Eagle Edwards had a welcome return to form with his rink of Stu Gemmill, Carmel Goss and Vern Verhagen winning 23 – 17 over Jack Prendergast and his rink of Les Brown, Rita Reddiex and Nick Nikodemski.  Peter Policha and his rink of Marcia Evans, Wayne Russell and Chris Cunningham won 21 – 20 over Bob D’Brass and his rink of Helen Cook, Bill Tyben and Keith Higgs.

Newborough (3) 102 Morwell (3) 72

Division 5

At Traralgon was the closest Preliminary Final match with Newborough (4) and Churchill tied after the 75th end was finished resulting in an extra end being played.  Rod Dixon and his rink of Phil Zappelli, Charlie Amos and Wally Smith was the big winner for Newborough (4) winning 24 – 17.  Jim Cuthbertson and his team of Kevin Myrteza, Peter Wonnacott and Ann-Mary Ryan won 26 – 23 over Sean Peter and his rink of Paul Dodds, Herb Kennedy and Chris Thomas.  Bill Brown and his team of Craig Flanigan, Gillian Turpin and Vern Hargeaves was the sole Churchill winning rink with a 27 – 21 win over Ken Bechaz and his rink of Ruth Verhagen, Lyn Madden and Wally Bechaz 

Newborough (4) 71 defeated Churchill 67

Division 6

Newborough (5) made it four winners for Newborough on the day with a big win over the combined Boolarra/Yinnar side.  Betty Williams and her team of Sheila Derooij, Stuart Wilson and Chris Wagstaff won 26 – 17 over Peter Canavan and his team of Aga Kozlowska, Susan Richards and Jo Bolch.  Joan Lee and her team of Ray Mellon, Lyn Lowe and Herman Jacobs defeated Janet Napier and her team of Bev Thompson, Mandi Peter and Peter Gair 34 – 19.

Newborough (5) 60 defeated Boolarra/Yinnar 36

Grand Final day is next Saturday and this is the first year since the final four was introduced that the top two teams on the ladder in each Division are playing off in the Grand Final.  Newborough is to be commended for having four teams in the Grand Final and they are hoping to do better than they did on semi final week when the all lost, particularly Division 1 who lost to Traralgon after an extra end.

Division 1

Should be a close battle with Traralgon and Newborough providing some excellent exhibitions of bowls particularly in finals matches which have been nail biting affairs.  This year should be no different with both teams aiming to win and qualify to play the South Gippsland winner at Korumburra on 10 April for the right to represent Strzelecki Region in the State Champion of Pennant.

Division 2

Will revive the strong rivalry between Moe and Morwell with the winner making a welcome return to Division 1.

Division 3

Thorpdale will be looking to win and return to Division 2 after a number of years in the wilderness and Traralgon (3) will be looking to win and go back up after a year in Division 3.

Division 4

Yarragon will be looking to defeat Newborough (3) to make a return to Division 3 after a long absence as will Newborough (3) who will be seeking to gain a victory against the only team they haven’t beaten this season.

Division 5

Morwell Club (2) return for another crack at progressing to Division 4 following their narrow defeat in the last few ends last year.  They had Newborough (4)’s measure late in the season but Newborough (4) were the pace setters throughout the season and will be aiming to win and return to Division 4 as well.

Division 6

Longwarry (2) are desperate to get a team in Division 5 after many years in Division 6 and will be looking to defeat Newborough (5) who played very well throughout the season after struggling to find players early in the season.

Michael Holroyd

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PRELIMINARY FINALS SATURDAY PENNANT 22 FEBRUARY 2020

 

In contrast to many days we have played bowls this season Saturday started out bright and sunny vindicating the Competitions Committee’s decision to play all games on outside greens at Moe and Traralgon.

Division 1 Newborough 116 dt  Longwarry 71 at Traralgon

Seeking a return match with Traralgon next week Newborough went away to a good lead prior to afternoon tea with the rinks of Alan Grubb and Kevin Lovett having large leads.  Grubb defeated Barry White 35 – 13 and Lovett defeated Russell White 32 – 19.  In the other rinks Paul Sherman won 23 – 20 over Trevor Eastwell and Nosha Michaels won 26 – 19 to complete a clean sweep with Newborough winning all four rinks in a powerful display of bowling in preparation to challenge a Traralgon side going for their third premiership in a row.

Division 2 Warragul 111 dt Garfield 84  at Moe

After losing to Moe last week Warragul was keen to defet Garfield to have another crack at Moe.  Ken Scammell lead the way for Warragul with a 28 – 14 victory over Stephen Whyte.  Bill Clappers and Peter Lieshout played a very high scoring game with Clappers winning 38 – 26.  Janette Gallasch with a 25 – 16 win over Shane Oliver extended the margin for Garfield who had a lone winner in Tom Cleary who won 28 – 20 over Warragul’s Clive Padgham.  The 27 shot win was enough to secure another chance to defeat Moe on Saturday for the right to return to Division 1.

Division 3 Traralgon RSL (2) 102 dt Morwell (2) 101 at Moe

In the closest match Traralgon RSL (2) playing on the unfamiliar Moe surface upset the fancied Morwell (2) team who were in a winning position with a few ends to play before faltering to let RSL sneak a well earned victory.  RSL go on to play Thorpdale in the Grand Final and are the only team coming from fourth place on the ladder into the Grand Final. Max Gibbins with a 30 – 21 win over Darren Cullen was the big winner for RSL along with Brendan Smiles who won 23 – 17 over Peter Borrodale to complete RSL’s winning rinks.  Morwell’s best rink was Ray Anstey with a 33 – 24 win over JohnFarquhar assisted by Darrell White with a 30 – 25 win over Gordon Astbury.  It was not enough an RSL won by one shot.

Division 4 Garfield (2) 96 dt Newborough (3) 93 at Traralgon

Garfield (2) with three rinks up were too good for Newborough (3) who were well behind at afternoon tea but fought back to gain a narrow lead before narrowly losing to enable Garfield (2) to become the only side finishing third on the ladder to make it through to the Grand Final. Don Knight had the star rink from Garfield (2) as he lead all day to defeat Keith Evans 30 – 22 even though Evans fought back after tea.  Bob Lamport battled early for Garfield (2) as he trailled Specner Goss for most of the day before coming homw strongly for a 24 – 19 victory.  Rod James had a 26 – 22 win over Alan Luck with Michael Holroyd the only winner for Newborough (3) with a 30 – 16 win over Gordon Moxey.

Division 5 Morwell (3) 92 dt  Newborough (4) 48 at Traralgon

Morwell (3) recovered from their loss last week to gain a Grand Final berth against Morwell Club (2) with a big win over Newborough (4).  Jack Prendergast’s rink had a big 36 – 15 win over a luckless Rod Dixon to set the foundations for a big victory.

Division (5) Longwarry (2) 46 dt Newborough (5) 36 at Traralgon

Longwarry had a ten shot win to gain a return match with Churchill next week.Gerard Mitchell with a 29 – 12 win over Betty Williams made up for Vicki Hanks loss 17 – 24 against Newborough’s Joan Lee.