Grove prevails for Pennant premiership

Matt Flapper celebrates as his bowl wins the end. (pictures Ivan Kemp) 323884_02

Ocean Grove defeated Highton to win the Geelong Bowls Region Saturday Pennant premiership at Drysdale on Sunday March 19.

The Grovers prevailed 63 to 54 in a tightly contested grand final.

The two sides fought an epic battle all season with Ocean Grove finishing on top of the ladder only after victory against Highton in the final round of the home and away season.

Both teams won one rink each and the other was tied.

Peter Loe and Dan Priddle couldn’t be separated with a 20 to 20 result on rink one.

Scott McLachlan won by the barest of margins for Highton on rink three, making Brad Pavey’s 10-shot win on rink two the deciding factor.

Torquay defeated St Leonards in Division 1 with both teams winning two rinks, but it was Russell Symons rink that proved the difference.

Torquay won a thriller by just one shot in Division 2 against Geelong with Lance Avent winning by 12 and Shane Grellet winning by 11 for Geelong.

Drysdale defeated Ocean Grove in Division 3 by four shots with Dog McDonald the biggest winner of the day.

Bell Post Hill proved too good for Torquay in Division 4, winning 90 to 69.

Ocean Grove thrashed City of Geelong in Division 5 by 41 shots with Bob Poole and Peter Kuschert both winning big.

In Division 6, Ocean Grove won by three shots against Drysdale with both teams winning two rinks, but it was Ken Harrigan’s 26 to 11 victory that sealed the deal.

Leopold defeated St Leonards to win the Division 7 flag while Point Lonsdale scraped home by three shots against Geelong RSL in Division 8 and Norlane beat Bell Post Hill for the Division 10 title.