By Justin Flynn
Ocean Grove won the Midweek Pennant Division 1 bowls premiership, surviving a late surge from a gallant Torquay at Highton Bowls Club on Tuesday March 12.
While the Grovers prevailed 60 to 49 and won all three rinks, Torquay got to within six shots late in the game.
But Ocean Grove held steady with Tyson Cromie needing to play exceptionally well to defeat Russell Symons by one shot.
Alan Drury won by four against Joshua Rudd and Matt Flapper got home by six against Daryl Kitchin.
Belmont defeated Queenscliff by six shots in the Division 2 Section 1 decider despite winning only one of the three rinks.
Karen Hayes’ rink had a 20-shot victory, which proved to be more than enough for Belmont to take the flag.
In Division 2 Section 2, Ocean Grove returned home with the premiership, defeating Eastern Park 63 to 53. Marg Carroll’s rink comprising Val Crumbie, Pat Virtue and Brian Smith had a 15-shot win.
Torquay got the better of Ocean Grove in Division 2 Section 3 to the tune of 14 shots with all three rinks tightly contested.
Bareena won by the barest of margins against Leopold in Division 3 Section 1. Leonie Smith and Jeannie Bartels won for Bareena while Valerie Kinchin won for Queenscliff.
Anglesea won by six against Leopold in Division 3 Section 2 with Barbara Hinton winning by 16.
Eastern Park took the honours against Ocean Grove in Division 4 Section 1 with both teams winning a rink each, but it was Jayne Rayner’s nine-shot victory that proved the difference.
Eastern Park thrashed Geelong 61 to 19 in Division 4 Section 2 with Meryl Inderberg winning by plenty.
Norlane capped off a fine season by defeating Eastern Park 37 to 36 in Division 5. John Stavris won by one for Eastern Park, but Neil Cotter won by two for Norlane.
Meanwhile, the Saturday Pennant preliminary finals have been rescheduled to Saturday March 16.
Extreme heat forced Geelong Bowls Region to cancel the matches set down for March 10 and they were rescheduled to Sunday March 11, however hot weather forced another cancellation.
All divisions will play preliminary finals on March 16 with grand finals set down for Sunday March 17.
