By Chris Mitchell
AFTER one full cycle of home and away matches, Ouyen find themselves on top of the Bowls Sunraysia Pennant Division 1 ladder and the only undefeated team in the competition.
They continued their run with a sound win over early season improvers Coomealla.
Ouyen’s Janet Vallance heads the skips table with five wins and a shot differential of 40 shots after five games; Norm Latta and Judy Pengelly both regulars in her rink.
Vallance’s rink collected a four-shot win over Adrian Barko, 24 – 20. The Cannons’ Mark Deakin returned fire and squared the ledger with a 24 – 20 win over Steve Simmonds.
But it was the “Kulwin Kid” Alan Crook, with Sue Kelly, Mick Donaghy and Lindsy Munro, who fired off a 30 – 16 win over Rod Taylor to get the home side across the line. Ouyen winning 74(10)-58(2).
Irymple hosted the Workers at the Cauldron. Ken Job’s rink made a solid return to the winners list with a 25 -15 win over Tanner Dickson-Arthur to give the visitors a sniff.
Tom Hogan kept his quartet rolling along with a 22-19 win over Butch Pollock to reduce the margin.
However the “quiet achiever” for the Suns was Matt West. Recently promoted to Skip, West, with Murray Fazulla, Graeme Lynch and Wayne McDonald bounced away with a 32-14 win over Roger Bray. The Suns collecting the points , 69(10)-58(2).
Mildura travelled to Kenny Park to take on the Merbein Hawks. Shawn Fullerton’s rink of Jeff Greenhill, Eric Watson and Chris Casey opened the Hawks account with a 26-22 win over Chris Mitchell.
The Magic’s Keith Sharman kept Hawk Laurie McLaine under wraps with a 22- 17 win, leaving the stage clear for the Magic’s Mark Eckel to collect the points with a strong win over Jack Anderson 35-18. Magic up 79(10)-61(2).
The Division 2 competition has warmed up with no clear favourite after round 5.
Irymple sent a clear message to the rest of the competition with a 41-shot demolition of Nangiloc that it is in the hunt. The Suns’ side is beginning to settle with Graeme Phillips (s), Col Sherriff, Phil Connell and Geoff Madigan collecting 37-9 win over Ben Mansell to set up an all points win 92(12)-51(0).
Mildura grabbed top spot on the ladder and are a game clear of the competition with a five-shot win over Red Cliffs. However they are only four points clear of the Suns in second place. Mildura 70(10)-Red Cliffs 65(2).
Workers kept their finals aspirations alive with a close encounter over Merbein. The Hawks collected two rink wins to take an early hold on the game.
Darren Cordwell however had different ideas and got his rink up 38 -15 over Scott Pollock to give the Workers the points 75(8)-62(4).
Third Division side Mildura had the record keepers searching the books after their 57-shot win over a developing Euston side.
Chris Barry’s rink leading the charge with a 45-16 win over Doug Brown. The Magic winning 116(12)-49(0).
Irymple scraped home over Workers 62(8)-61(4) to head up the Division 3 table.
Underbool hosted Ouyen in the southern derby and collected a 10 shot win, 68(10)-58(2).
Wentworth Steamers have taken top spot on the ladder and are a game clear of Irymple after they defeated Mildura 78(11)-61(1).
Coomealla got over Irymple 77(8)-71(4).
The Euston Bandits saluted with a solid 76(10)-68(2) win over Red Cliffs. They are now in fourth place on the ladder.
A great achievement for the club after investing their time and effort into developing and bringing into the game a number of first year players and juniors.
LADDERS
Division 1: Ouyen 49, Irymple 42, Mildura 30, Coomealla 26, Workers 24, Merbein 9.
Division 2: Mildura 43, Irymple 39, Nangiloc 36, red Cliffs 30, Workers 22, Merbein 10.
Division 3: Irymple 42, Underool 36, Ouyen 34, Workers 30, Mildura 28, Euston 10.
Division 4: Wentworth 46, Irymple 36, Coomealla 35, Euston 24, Mildura 24, Red Cliffs 15.
