IN A scintillating replay of last year’s Bowls Sunraysia Saturday Pennant Division 1 grand final, the Irymple Suns have sent a clear message to the rest of the competition after they recorded a come from behind victory over ladder leaders Mildura Magic.
Mildura broke the game open early jumping out to a 9 to 10 shot lead in the first few ends.
The Suns then countered and by the break had reduced the deficit to four shots.
Over the first four ends collectively after brew, the Suns opened a blitzkrieg quickly reigning in the deficit and jumping away to an eight-shot lead.
Graeme Lynch fired his rink of Darren Cass, Anthony Kelly and Trevor Flack to chase down Butch Pollock’s team.
After 13 ends Lynch’s rink lead 14 to 13, while on the the remaining 12 ends they collected 19 shots to Pollock’s five, running out solid 33-18 winners.
Next door Matt West trailed Mildura’s Ron O’Neil 10 to 14 at afternoon tea, but lifted his rink of Chris Madigan, Mick Legin and Graham Newey to a 32 to 27 win.
Mildura’s Isaiah Bettess, promoted to skip for the first time, battled hard against David Grey but fell away over the last four to five ends to go down 17 to 25.
Ultimately it all added up to Irymple running out clear winners 90 (12) to 62 (0).
Out at Red Cliffs, the Tigers continued their giant slaying form winning a tight one at Tiger Park.
Red Cliffs Bruce Harford accounted for Roger Bray 22 to 13, while Workers’ Neville Mitchell recorded a solid 33-18 win over Maurie Press to give the visitors a sniff of victory.
The Tigers Michael Clifford with Ian Lowes, Graham Bamford and Don Reed proved too strong for Ken Job winning 29 to 22 as Red Cliffs pulled out a 69 (10) a 68 (2) victory.
In the final game Ouyen surged to a solid 17 shot win over Merbein where the Two Blues Janet Vallance skipped her rink of Harry Munro, Geoff Hahnel and Ning Pitcher to a 28 -18 win over Laurie McLaine.
Mick Donaghy had too much in the tank recording a creditable 30-21 win over Jeff Greenhill. Whilst Alan Crook kept the David Maud rink quiet going down 20-22. Ouyen 78(10) – Merbein 61(2).
Division Two matches saw some solid performances as Mildura kept hold of the double chance defeating third placed Irymple 69 (10) to 65 (2).
Ken Yeowart, Garry Holmes, Russ Kneebone and Chris Richards were the Magic’s best with a 24-20 win over Greg Brown.
Coomealla kept a grip on top spot with a narrow two-shot win over Ouyen.
Brandon Tyers, Rob O’Brien, Tom Bath and Peter Lambert took the chocolates for the Cannons with a comfortable 27 – 16 win over Reg Dean.
Coomealla winning 69 (10) to Ouyen 67 (2).
Meanwhile, Nangiloc finished the stronger over Workers winning 77 (10) to 62 (2).
Toby Moore, Wade Duncan, John English and Sarah Gilmore the best performed Nangiloc rink with a 29 to 12 win over Ian Lowes.
In Third Division results went pretty much as expected.
Wentworth were taken to the precipice by Irymple. The Steamers Ivan Behsmann was the only home rink to win. But a 24-17 win over Gaudern Gray was enough to get the Steamers into port as Wentworth 66 (8) defeated Irymple 63 (4).
Workers had a solid win over Merbein collecting all the points 80 (12) to 54 (0) and Dave Robertson the best for Workers with Geoff Castleman, Peter Copley and Carol Patrick winning 29 to 15 over Jack Anderson.
Mildura took all the points on offer against Red Cliffs winning 81 (12) to 49 (0) as Dennis Lloyd, Ian Livingston, Bernie Sharp and Marlene Scheele were the best for the Magic with a 31 to 15 win over Ian Bliss.
Finally, Underbool took out the Euston Bandits 77 (10) to 63(2) with Robert Gloster, Stephen Simmonds, John Pryse and Alan Willsmore the best for the ‘Bool with a 32-15 win over Doug Brown.
When it came to Fourth Division Irymple clean sheeted Mildura 4, 48 (8) to Mildura 32 (0), Euston 2 went down to Mildura 5 40 (2) to 54(6), Euston 3 forfeited to Underbool and Coomealla 46 (8) defeated Red Cliffs 40 (0)
Division One Ladder: Mildura 104, Irymple 97, Ouyen 77, Workers 69, Merbein 62, Red Cliffs 59.
Division Two Ladder: Coomealla 118, Mildura 112, Irymple 103, Nangiloc 58, Workers 34, Ouyen 31.
Division 3 Ladder: Wentworth 116, Mildura 103, Underbool 94, Euston 81, Irymple 71, Workers 56, Merbein 54.
Division 4 Ladder: Coomealla 90, Mildura 4 66, Irymple 62, Underbool 54, Euston 2 50, Mildura 5 46, Red Cliffs 24, Euston 3 24.
