After losing its round 1 clash by seven shots, Leopold’s Division 1 Geelong Bowls Region side has put together a solid two-game block with wildly contrasting results.
Leopold lost its opening round 79 to 86 against City of Geelong, but rebounded with a huge 119 to 55 victory against Geelong and then prevailed in a thriller by one shot – 77 to 76 – against Highton on Saturday.
It sets up a huge two weeks for Leopold when it meets the top two sides – Ocean Grove and St Leonards.
Despite the round 1 loss, Brandon Anderson said Leopold played well, but couldn’t capitalise on the key moments.
“We started really well in the first game,” he said.
“We jumped out to probably a 15-, 20-shot lead, but then we just went quiet across the four rinks and they got on a roll.
“City are a very solid side. They’ve come down from Premier, so they were up above us the year before so they’ve probably got something to prove again.”
Leopold looked like losing going into the final two ends in Saturday’s nailbiter at Highton.
“I think we were six down with two to play,” Anderson said.
“Charlie (Sproal) played a couple of really big bowls to make a three and then I played a bowl to make a four. We ended up getting the seven we needed.”
Anderson skipped his rink of lead Terri Rudge, second Michael Abbott and third Lucas Cameron to a 27 to 11 win.
“Terri was fantastic and set up good heads,” Anderson said.
“We were on a run of six or seven ends in a row where we were just getting ones and twos and keeping the scoreboard ticking over.
“Lucas Cameron was fantastic for me. Micky Abbott was thereabouts at the end of the game when I needed him.”
Anderson said his trio all brought something different to the dynamics of their rink.
“Terri – if her first one’s not where it should be or where it needs to be, she corrects very well all the time,” he said.
“She’s just a very steady, lovely person to play with.
“Mick plays his big bowls when he has to, probably a bit more up and about than Terri, and then Louie’s just as steady as they come. Nothing fazes him.”
Anderson said despite Nicholas Lazic’s rink going down 5 to 32 to Mark Cavanagh, they were able to stem the flow, which contributed to the victory.
“That was that the rink that struggled a bit, but some of them weren’t playing badly and especially towards the end of the game when it was on the line I thought they actually played pretty well,” he said.
“The score won’t reflect that, but the last few ends were pretty big in the way the overall board went. The last couple ends, rather than dropping threes and fours, they were dropping ones or they were getting ones.”
Anderson said the next two rounds would give a good indication of where fourth-placed Leopold stands.
“Ocean Grove, they made the final last year so they’ll be very steady and they’re a very big club in Geelong,” he said.
“It’s a good test for us. We can see where we’re at and it’s at home too, which is nice. You want to play these teams to see where you’re at as a club.
“St Leonards are always very good at home. They probably don’t get spoken about as much, but they’re very steady and they’re always in the mix and are one of those danger sides.”
GEELONG BOWLS REGION
Round 4, Saturday 15 November
Premier Pennant
Queenscliff 81 (14) def Ocean Grove 75 (4): Ray Butler 18 def by Bradley Pavey 22, Ben Russell 18 def by Peter Loe 25, Mitch Hocking 25 def Tyson Cromie 18, Steve Sullivan 20 def Josh Rudd 10.
Eastern Park 79 (16) def Drysdale 63 (2): Cal Inderberg 29 def Mark Godbolt 13, Nick Bell 15 def John Monahan 14, Adam Martin 19 def Luke Lawrence 18, Scott McDonald 16 def by Ashley Rees 18.
Torquay 110 (18) def Lara 47 (0): Nelson Ball 38 def Karl Weil 11, David Cairns 26 def Don Grellet 9, Daryl Kitchin 26 def Michael James Kelly 13, James Banks 20 def Brendan Umbers 14.
Highton 85 (16) def Bell Post Hill 63 (2): Dan Priddle 17 def by Dieter Gercke 23, Scott McLachlan 29 def Ben Toner 14, Adam Lee 17 def Darren Gillett 13.
Division 1
Leopold 77 (14) def Highton 76 (4): Brandon Anderson 27 def Ron Imanse 11, Nicholas Lazic 5 def by Mark Cavanagh 32, Charlie Sproal 14 def by Owen Landry 20, Michael Willis 31 def Nick Oakes 13.
Belmont 79 (13) def Portarlington 78 (5): Robert Agg 17 def by Gerard Reed 23, Steve Davies 21 tied with David Dunlop 21, Robin Hayes 17 def by Barry Hirth 18, John Harris 24 def Michael Dennis 16.
St Leonards 81 (15) def City of Geelong 78 (3): Henry Dahler 24 def Jayden Wombell 17, Andy Hills 14 def by Sandra Tillson 19, Michael Kennedy 23 def David Vogele 22, Tony Long 20 tied with John Shell 20.
Ocean Grove 86 (18) def Geelong 47 (0): Alan Drury 25 def Graham Harrison 13, Michael West 17 def Troy Thompson 14, Rod Brehaut 24 def Arthur Crooke 11, Hugh O’Reilly 22 def Bryan Wilson 9.
