Sport
25 January, 2024
Dunolly Blue and Highland Red establish themselves as the teams to beat
It was a historic occasion for the Goldfields Playing Area with the first Charity Round for the weekend pennant on Saturday, and the quality of lawn bowls well and truly delivered on the big stage at the Highland Society. DIVISION ONE A high-quality...
It was a historic occasion for the Goldfields Playing Area with the first Charity Round for the weekend pennant on Saturday, and the quality of lawn bowls well and truly delivered on the big stage at the Highland Society.
DIVISION ONE
A high-quality meeting between Dunolly Blue and Highland Tartan was resolved in the favour of the former 61-53, leaving Dunolly Blue in the box seat to claim the minor premiership with a 32-point lead with 48 points on offer.
Dunolly Blue were dominant on the first two rinks, with Peter Waters taking a 28-16 win over Greg Shay, while Tony Galofaro continued his terrific season with a 23-12 win over Michael Fryar. While Garry Coburn collected a 25-10 win over Keith Elliott to claw back some ground, it wasn’t enough.
Highland Tartan’s pain was Avoca Red’s gain, and they made the race for the double chance very interesting with a 76-38 win over Dunolly Gold, closing to within a point of Tartan.
Avoca Red took all 16 points on offer, with Noel Parratt taking a 20-16 win over Sandra Chaplin, before Daniel Giddings extended that advantage with a 29-9 win over Frank Mifsud. Ian Proctor finished off the job with a 27-13 win over Roy Pickering.
Talbot Gold are also back in the double-chance picture, courtesy of a 74-41 win over Newstead Blue which now sees them 13 points behind Highland Tartan in fourth.
The result also virtually finishes off Newstead Blue and Highland White’s chances of making the finals, with the division one finals race now seemingly a race of five.
Peter McLaughlan took a 28-15 win over Bill Burnett, while Paul Radstock extended Talbot Gold’s advantage with a 29-13 win over Bernie Gervasoni. Peter Fletcher finished things off with a 17-13 win over Brian Daly.
Maryborough Golf Blue look to be the only team who could upset the balance of the top four, maintaining fifth with a 66-48 win over Highland White.
It was Gerry Carmody’s 31-9 win over Nathan Reeves which made the bulk of the difference for Golf Blue, also taking a 22-21 win courtesy of Harold Patullo over Paul Gothard. While Highland White took an 18-13 win with Dennis Prosser over Anthony Chambers, it wasn’t enough for Highland White.
DIVISION TWO
The outlook of division two has changed again, with the race for the top four tightening up with three rounds remaining.
Highland Red have virtually stamped their ticket to the finals with a strong 65-42 win over Maryborough Golf Gold in a match between the top two teams.
While Ross Andrews gave Golf Gold a terrific start with a 20-11 win over Albert Spencer, it was all Highland Red on the second and third rinks, with Tilleke Wadeson defeating Trevor Young 29-13 and Lawrence Barry defeating John Scott 25-9.
The result means Talbot Brown is now holding down the double chance, taking a 67-42 win over Newstead White.
Talbot Brown took all 16 points on offer, with Steven Murray defeating Graeme Lipback 23-16, Ray Prentice defeating Travis Wilkinson 18-13 and Barb Crossley taking a 26-13 win over Mark Leckey.
Avoca Gold have closed to within two points of Carisbrook courtesy of a 63-53 win — their best result of the season.
Allyson Hearnden took a 24-12 win over Ron Baker, but Carisbrook hit back on rink two with Malcolm Milne’s 19-15 win over Loralee Field. Graeme Orr wasn’t to be denied, however, with a 24-22 win over Ross Gregory ensuring Avoca Gold would take the points.
Maldon have surged into the finals conversation courtesy of a 76-44 win over Dunolly Green.
It was a win for the Dons which saw them claim all 16 points, with Annette Gillham taking a 27-8 win over David Wardell, while Eric Cook claimed a 23-13 win over Aaron Britten. Geoff Cobden finished off the job with a 26-23 win over Wayne Stephens.
ROUND 12
With Charity Round over, attention now focuses to the final three rounds of the season.
The showstopping meeting of division one sees third-placed Avoca Red and fourth-placed Talbot Gold battling to determine who might be best positioned to upset the Dunolly Blue and Highland Tartan applecart at Talbot Bowls Club, with Avoca Red claiming a five-shot win in their last meeting.
Highland Tartan faces an important clash with fifth-placed Maryborough Golf Blue, who are fighting for their season at home. Tartan did take the points in their last meeting, but also lost two rinks, meaning Golf Blue will be hoping to be well in the hunt this time around.
Ladder-leader Dunolly Blue will look to secure the minor premiership when they travel to Newstead to face Newstead Blue. If they can secure a lead of 33 points or greater at the end of Saturday’s play, they will be successful in their endeavours.
In what seems to be a dead-rubber, Highland White and Dunolly Gold meet. While Highland White are still a mathematical chance of making the finals, they would need to claim three big wins to overhaul the top four.
In division two, the big meeting of the weekend sees third-placed Maryborough Golf Gold travel to Avoca to play fifth-placed Avoca Gold.
Avoca Gold will take plenty of confidence from their big win over Carisbrook, and will be hoping to take another big scalp to perhaps move into the top four at the right time of the year.
Another important clash sees Talbot Brown travel to Maldon, who lie sixth, but are still very much in the reckoning for a spot in the top four.
Carisbrook will be looking to bounce back when they travel to Newstead to face Newstead White, while Highland Red can all-but secure the minor premiership with a win over seventh-placed Dunolly Green.