RED Cliffs have produced an outstanding finish to the Bowls Sunraysia Saturday Pennant season producing four big wins on the home stretch to cement a finals appearance, including win over Ouyen on Saturday.
The Tigers needed everything to go to plan to lock in post-season play, and Irymple obliged with a win over Workers and Mildura took out Merbein.
While Tiger president Maurie Press went down to Norm Latta 23 to 24, losing by only one-shot allowed Bruce Harford to pilot his rink of Mark Ford, Geoff Peters and Joseph Leksas to a solid 24 to 18 win over Alan Crook.
Michael Clifford added to Harford’s efforts also collecting a six-shot win over Janet Vallance.
Ultimately the Tigers won 73 (10) to Ouyen’s 62 (2).
Next week these two teams will do it all over again except Ouyen will be the hosting side thanks to their third placed finish and the Two Blues will also regain the services of Mick Donaghy.
At the Mildura Bowls Complex, Workers hosted Irymple.
The Green and Gold had everything to play for with a finals spot up for grabs.
At the halfway mark it looked like an upset was looming with Workers holding an eight-shot lead but that quickly evaporated when Nev Mitchell’s rink dropped six to Matt West and The Suns grabbed the lead.
Roger Bray kept Fred Bacon, Ron Archer and Wayne Long on task as they took out Graeme Lynch’s rink 25 to 22.
Yet David Gray took full toll over Worker’s Ken Job to run away with a 30 to 16-shot win to open the gate for the Suns and then West iced the cake winning 31 to 24 over Mitchell.
Sadly that was the season done for Workers, Irymple winning 83 (10) to 65 (2).
At the other end of the complex Mildura were mindful that with Irymple winning over Workers the top spot on the Division 1 tables was on the line, and a solid start and a good win was imperative.
Ron O’Neil’s rink seized the opportunity and produced a gritty 35 to 17 shot win over David Maud, while Keith Sharman back as the skip piloted Lindsay Lynch, Corey Bettess and Peter Ellis to a 31 to 16 win over Jack Anderson.
Merbein’s Shawn Fullerton came back from a nine shots down to produce a 30 -24 win over Mark Eckel.
In the end the Magic got home 90 (10) to 63 (2).
Next week the finals begin with Ouyen will host Red Cliffs in the elimination final and Mildura will put on the tea and biscuits for Irymple, with the winner qualifying for the grand final.
Second Division matches were a dress rehearsal for next week’s finals.
Top side Coomealla hosted Mildura at the Thunderdome and demonstrated why head the table, recording a six-shot win.
Mildura’s only shining light was Ken Yeowart’s rink who banked a 27 to 11 win over Mark Deakin.
Brandon Tyers, with Tom Bath, Rob O’Brien and Peter Lambert squared the ledger for the Cannons winning 32-12 over Reg Gardner.
That left Adrian Barko to snare a win over Jon Underwood 22-20 to get the Cannons over the line with Coomealla winning 65 (10) to 59 (2).
Meanwhile, Nangiloc hosted Irymple at the Loc.
Ben Mansell got the home side off to a solid start with a 22 to 13 win over Gus Storer.
The Sun’s Ian Kellett was quick to respond with a 24 to 19 total against Jamie Forte.
That left Terry Bourke to lift his quartet of Noel Hiscock, Russ Lynch and Geoff Madigan to a 26 to 13 win for the Sun’s as Irymple took the chocolates 63 (10) to 54 (2).
These two sides will return next week to battle it out in the elimination final to be played at Irymple.
In the remaining game Ouyen hosted Workers.
The home side prevailed winning 76 (10) to 62 (2) as Terry Pitcher lead the way for the Two Blues registering a 34 to 20 win against Ian Lowe.
Mick Rhoden flew the flag for the Workers by claiming a 26 to 18 victory over Alan Floyd, while Reg Dean also added to the Two Blues total with a 24 to 16 win over Ron Boyd.
Division Two finals next week see Coomealla hosting Mildura at the Thunderdome in the qualifying final and Irymple will face of against Nangiloc at the Cauldron in the elimination final.
