Highton has won through to the Geelong Bowls Region Premier Division grand final after a thrilling one-shot preliminary final victory over Eastern Park.
While Eastern Park managed to claim one rink decisively, Highton won the other two matchups to prevail 50 shots to 49 at Belmont Bowls Club.
Eastern Park’s Vince Chapman skipped his team to a seven-shot win to defeat David Priddle 20-13, giving his side every chance to advance to the ultimate match of the season this Sunday, March 19.
But Highton’s Scott McLachlan and Dan Priddle won their rinks by five and three shots respectively to put last year’s runners-up one shot ahead and into the grand final.
The result will see a repeat of last year’s grand final clash between Highton and reigning premiers Ocean Grove when the two clubs meet again at Drysdale this weekend.
For the last two home and away seasons, Ocean Grove and Highton have topped the Premier Division table, each winning 15 of their 18 matches in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
Last season Ocean Grove beat Highton to the top spot by just three shots, while this season the Grovers finished six shots ahead.
Highton hoped to have its Division 1 team competing in the competition’s grand final this weekend as well, but Torquay were too good for Highton 2 in the Division 1 preliminary final.
Torquay won three of their four rinks to defeat Highton by 25 shots, 95-70.
Torquay skips Daryl Kitchin (30-13) and Gary Banks (27-12) claimed runaway victories, while Brett Irvine recorded a six-shot win over Highton’s Brad Ott and Peter Monk had a good 30-17 win for the losing side.
Torquay, who finished the regular season in the fourth finals spot, will face second-placed St Leonards in the Division 1 grand final, also at Drysdale this weekend.
