By Chris Mitchell
THE Irymple Suns shone in round one of Bowls Sunraysia Weekend pennant when they accounted for Merbein at the Cauldron by 17 shots.
The Hawks took the game right up to the Suns with Graham Newey’s Merbein rink losing by only two shots to Tom Hogan.
Next door the “Sherriff” had to fight hard against a feisty David Maud to record a one-shot victory, but the Suns’ standout rink of imports skipped by Tanner Dickson-Arthur, with Wayne Gardner, Anthony Kelly and Russell Lynch put the icing on the cake with a solid 31–17 win over Jack Anderson. The Suns got home 73 (12) to Merbein 56 (0).
Workers hosted Ouyen at Cureton Avenue and lost a tight one 62 (10) – 67 (2).
The match see-sawed all day but in the end, the Two Blues saluted with Janet Vallance piloting her rink of Norm Latta, Mick Donaghy and Judy Pengelly to a 27-23 win over Worker’s Ian “Butch” Pollock to give them the points.
Stephen Simmonds collected a 21-19 win over Ken Job, while Workers’ Roger Bray collected two points with a 20-19 win over Alan Crook.
Mildura were put through the cleaners by Coomealla, who had all cannons blazing, winning 77 (10)- 60(2).
Rod Taylor’s rink of John Bloomfield, Brian Wakefield and Jayden Taylor accounted for Mark Eckel’s rink 26-16, Taylor in particular having a standout performance at Lead.
Keith Sharman worked hard all day to snatch a last-end win and two points for the Magic.
Mark Deakin had his artillery unit finely tuned. David Gust at lead, Ian Anderson second and Geoff Peters playing third bowled solidly from the get go against Chris Mitchell and recorded a solid 28-20 win. The Cannons winning 77 (10)- 60 (2).
In Division 2, reigning premiers Mildura defeated Nangiloc 75 (10) – 67 (2).
Shirley Pupillo’s rink of Bernie Sharp, Graeme Hobbs and Rod Johnstone won 29-17 against Alan Erskine to set up the Magic’s win.
Red Cliffs saluted at home over Workers winning 72 (10) – Workers 54 (2).
Trevor Clarke’s rink of Carolyn Cole, Steve Spry and Joseph Lesksas were the best performers over Col Gowers; 29 – 17.
Irymple fought out a tight match at Merbein winning 67 (10) – 58 (2).
In Division 3 Irymple 3 92 (12) defeated Euston 1 53 (0), Workers 3 61 (2) lost to Underbool 1 77 (10) and Ouyen 2 71 (8) defeated Mildura 3 58 (4).
In Division 4, Mildura 4 78 (9) defeated Coomealla 72 (3), Wentworth v Euston 4 results unofficially show a two-shot win to Euston 80-78, while Red Cliffs 2 56 (0) lost to Irymple 4 86 (12).
Ladders:
Division 1: Irymple 12, Coomealla 10, Ouyen 10, Workers 2, Mildura 2, Merbein 0.
Division 2: Red Cliffs 1 10, Irymple 2 10, Mildura 2 10, Nangiloc 1 2, Merbein 2 2, Workers 2 2.
Division 3: Irymple 3 12, Underbool 1 10, Ouyen 2 8, Mildura 3 4, Workers 3 2, Euston 1 0.
Division 4: Irymple 4; 12, Mildura 4; 9, Euston 2; 8, Wentworth 1; 4, Coomealla 2; 3, Red Cliffs 2; 0 (Unofficial).
