JUST one round remains in the bowls pennant season, with plenty at stake across all divisions.
MUCH TO PLAY FOR: Kilmore and Romsey players watch the rink during a tense division one clash on Saturday.
Kilmore only needs to take a rink off the all-conquering Kyneton, or rely on Gisborne to not clean sweep Diggers Rest, to make the division one finals, despite falling to Romsey 55-67 in a crucial game.
The win essentially seals Romsey a top two finish, built on the back of Greg Taylor’s 28-14 win over Lance Whitnall, which allowed it to negotiate Aaron Young’s 19-21 loss to Daniel Noonan, and a 20-all draw between Josh Wiffen and Damien Ely.
Broadford played with plenty of emotion as it mourned the loss of Robert Chapman, but despite winning two of the rinks, couldn’t quite find a victory over Diggers Rest, losing 76-54.
It was Rodney Davies’ 40-14 win over Daryl Kelly which made the difference, while David Ellis took a rink win for Broadford, 19-16 over Phil Robinson, as did Luke Gleeson, winning 21-20 over Rod Treweek.
Lancefield are having a positive finish to the season, recording a 66-52 win over Kyneton Golf.
Jeff Holmes’ 23-12 win over Barry Godbolt and Andrew Brandolin’s 30-17 win over Wayne Turner was more than enough to withstand Aaron Andrews’ 13-23 loss to Adrian Plowman.
In division two, Broadford has moved off the bottom of the ladder with its first win of the season, scoring victory over Macedon by the narrowest of margins, 60-59.
Allan Cowen’s 35-10 win over Ian Guymer was all the difference, as it was enough to withstand losses to Kevin Inness, 10-28 to Ian Matthews, and Adam Fisher, 15-21 to Gary Dickenson.
Romsey kept alive its finals hopes with a solid 63-56 win over Kilmore.
Gary Gilligan’s 22-13 win over John Coates, and Maree Marshall’s 27-11 win over Mark Hodgson, was enough for Romsey, despite Kilmore scoring an impressive 32-14 win on rink three through Ken Campbell over John Beaumont.
In division three, Woodend was too strong for Kilmore, scoring a 68-47 win.
Judith Jewell scored a 21-18 win over Derrick Boyd, while Trevor Sturt won 19-13 over Carol Wright. Arthur Jewell completed the clean sweep with a 28-16 win over Stephen Light.
Similarly, Lancefield could not contain Mt Cottrell, losing 78-41.
Mt Cottrell won all three rinks, with Jeffrey Langley winnng 21-14 over Peter Shannon, Shaun Taylor winning 25-18 over Jeff Smith and Liam Glascott prevailing 32-9 over Frederick Shipcott.
Tuesday pennant’s final round will be today, with Kilmore warming up in division one with a solid 63-53 win over Romsey.
Stephen McNamara took a 29-13 win over Simon Mayger, while William Hanna scored a 22-15 win over Leonard Kean.
Taylor prevented the clean sweep for the Blues with a 25-12 win over Mark Hodgson.
In division two, Broadford still holds on to fourth position, despite a 72-42 loss to Gisborne.
Barbara Goddard gave Broadford two crucial points with a 22-16 win over Sean Lawless, but Ian Ball took a 39-5 win over Rodney Campbell and Edward Evans scored a 17-15 win over Cowen.
Kilmore had a positive result, scoring a 66-64 win over Romsey.
Wright took a 26-21 win over Hazel Rose, while Joan Grindlay scored a 25-13 win over Mick Gilligan. David Culpan ensured Romsey wouldn’t get swept, however, with a 30-15 win over Sandra Bloomfield.
In division three, Lancefield took a 37-35 win over Woodend.
Trevor Young took a 28-15 win over Arthur Jewell, but Judith Jewel turned the tables with a 20-9 win over Howard Matthews.
