IT’S finals time for the Highlands Bowls Region, with many Mitchell Shire teams right in the thick of the action.
Kilmore has held on for a spot in the finals in division one, despite losing to Kyneton Golf 58-56 on Saturday.
Daniel Noonan’s 24-17 win over Adrian Plowman, and Lance Whitnall’s 19-16 win over Anthony Barker, secured finals at Gisborne’s expense by four premiership points, despite Daniel Carroll’s 25-13 loss to Wayne Turner.
Romsey go into the finals finishing second, and emerge as the biggest rival to Kyneton’s dominance, after a 62-51 win over Woodend.
Damien Ely took a 25-16 win over Norman Bickerdyke, while Cameron Austin took a 20-15 win over Stephen Pickles, covering Aaron Young’s 17-20 loss to Geoff Symons.
Broadford could not get its season done with a flourish with a tough outing against the all-conquering Kyneton, losing 81-38.
Broadford gave it everything, with Luke Gleeson losing 16-29 to Bernie Halpin, Daryl Kelly lowering his colours 14-23 to Gregory Podesta and David Ellis losing 8-29 to Anthony Mathison.
Lancefield finish with the wooden spoon after losing 60-47 to Trentham.
Jeff Holmes defeated Rodney Justice 23-17, but Robert Dobinson’s 20-9 win over Trevor Young and Phillip Hanson’s 23-15 win over Andrew Brandolin consigned Lancefield to another loss.
Kyneton Golf meet Kilmore again at Trentham this weekend, while Kyneton will play Romsey.
In division two, Romsey just narrowly missed out on finals, despite getting all 16 premiership points after Diggers Rest’s forfeit, with Macedon matching its feat in a win over Gisborne.
Broadford, as a result, also avoided the wooden spoon, despite losing 90-45 to Kyneton Golf.
Allan Cowen lost 18-27 to Barry McKimmie, while Adam Fisher was outplayed by Dale Bond, 12-31. John McQualter completed a sweep for Kyneton Golf with a 32-15 win over Kevin Inness.
Likewise, Kilmore could not end its season on a positive note, losing 43-81 to Kyneton.
Andrew Cassidy’s 16-15 win over Mark Smoljo was a highlight, but it could not be matched by Mark Hodgson, who fell 10-37 to Denise Knight, or Colin Hodgson, who lost to Michael Bermingham 17-29.
In division three, Romsey finished on top despite losing badly to Mt Cottrell 88-33.
The minor premiers were swept on every rink, with David Culpan losing 7-30 to Jeffrey Langley, while John Frey lost 10-30 to Shaun Taylor. The sweep was complete with Liam Glascott defeating Mick Gilligan 28-16.
Kilmore just narrowly missed out on a win with a 58-60 loss to Trentham.
This came despite winning two of the rinks, with Carol Wright beating Brendan Brown 22-17 and Sandra Bloomfield defeating Mark Kemp 24-18. Irene Bruton’s 25-12 win over Leighton Bloomfield made all the difference for Trentham.
Similarly, Lancefield could not end on a winning note, losing 54-72 to Woodend.
Nicholas Shannon was defeated by Judith Jewell 25-16, while Frederick Shipcott was defeated by Arthur Jewell 16-20. Peter Shannon lost to Phillip Nathan 22-27.
Romsey plays Gisborne at the Kilmore Bowls Club on Saturday.
In Tuesday pennant, Kilmore and Romsey will meet today in the first semi-final at Kyneton Golf in a sudden death matchup.
Kilmore come in after losing 74-33 to Gisborne, while Romsey come in with completely different form after dispatching Diggers Rest 71-40 last week.
Despite getting swept off the rink by Woodend 84-43, Broadford will still play finals, with Macedon falling short of Gisborne to make up the required gap.
Broadford will take on third-placed Gisborne at Diggers Rest, while Kilmore’s season ended with a tight 61-64 loss to Kyneton, and Romsey lost to Trentham 51-69.
Lancefield were too strong for Mt Cottrell, winning 50-25 in division three, and will take on Gisborne in the first semi-final at Trentham this morning.