Sport
19 January, 2023
Take two for Saturday bowls after heat strike
It was a false start for the Saturday pennant last weekend, with all games called off due to the heat rule. What it does mean for all teams is that there is now added urgency for both the top two, top four and wooden spoon race in both divisions. In...

It was a false start for the Saturday pennant last weekend, with all games called off due to the heat rule.
What it does mean for all teams is that there is now added urgency for both the top two, top four and wooden spoon race in both divisions.
In division one, it’s fair to say we were robbed of the chance to see which of Highland Tartan or Talbot Gold were looking good for a top two spot due to the conditions. However, for Tartan, a new challenge opens up — they’ll be travelling to minor premiership rival Dunolly Blue this weekend in a meeting between first and second.
Last time, it was Dunolly Blue which landed the first blow of the season, inflicting what remains Tartan’s only loss of the season with a 60-50 victory. A convincing victory here will see Dunolly Blue replace Tartan on top of the ladder.
Talbot Gold will look to take advantage of the misfortune of the loser of that game, while also simultaneously look to all-but end Avoca Red’s season.
A win for Talbot Gold, coupled with a loss for Dunolly Blue, will see them move into the top two. For Avoca Red, last week’s cancelled game could prove to be a costly blow, particularly given they had beaten Maryborough Golf Blue earlier in the season. However, they’ll now need everything to go in their favour to make finals — including overturning a 69-47 defeat in their previous encounter against Talbot Gold.
Maryborough Golf Blue will look to take pole position for fourth place when they travel to bottom-placed Highland Red.
A victory will be of great importance for Golf Blue, given they will be playing Highland Tartan, Dunolly Gold and Dunolly Blue in a season-shaping three-week period to round out their home-and-away season.
Last time, Golf Blue were able to hold off Highland Red to take an important victory, winning 58-47.
To round off division one, Dunolly Gold will look to stave off the improved Newstead Blue and keep their chances of a finals berth alive.
Newstead Blue will be desperate to keep the slimmest of finals chances alive with a victory, however, they will have to improved markedly on their 37-74 defeat in round four.
Division two will see some interesting matches which could have a big impact on the top two and top four battles respectively.
Top of the agenda is fifth-placed Avoca Gold looking to perhaps break into the top four with an upset victory over Carisbrook.
Avoca Gold remain the only team to have defeated Carisbrook this season, having taken a 63-53 victory in round four, and a similar result could see them move into the top four at Maryborough Golf Gold’s expense.
It won’t be an easy task for Golf Gold either, with Highland White making the short trip as they look to maintain the double chance.
However, Golf Gold will fancy their chances of an upset, especially knowing they were able to be very competitive in the corresponding round four fixture when they pushed Highland White all the way, eventually losing 55-64.
Waiting in the wings if both Golf Gold and Avoca Gold are beaten is Maldon, who could jump into the top four if they take all 16 competition points against seventh-placed Dunolly Green.
Maldon were close to doing so in their round four match-up, but had to settle for a draw on rink three as they took an 87-53 victory.
Finally, Talbot Brown will be looking to keep their double-chance hopes alive when they host bottom-placed Newstead White.
They will be hoping for a Golf Gold win in order to leapfrog Highland White into the top two should they get the job done, having taken a dominant 82-35 victory in their previous encounter with Newstead White in round four.