IRYMPLE Suns finished the better in a hard-fought semi-final over minor premiers Mildura Magic to earn a spot in the Bowls Sunraysia Division 1 grand final.
Rob Hogan took over the mantle of Hogan’s Hero when he guided his rink to a 22-19 win over Mark Eckel.
Magic’s Keith Sharman and his rink had control of their match against Graham Lynch early. Irymple’s Tom Hogan and his merry men trailed the Major 10-18.
Wayne Gardner took the Irymple unit to task at the break, demanding a solid effort through to the final end.
The side responded with Hogan Junior starting a solid run, collecting two big counts totalling nine shots to bring the Suns within reach over the final few ends.
Chris Mitchell’s rink of John Simpson, Lindsay Lynch and Isaiah Bettess pulled together and finished the stronger to collect a 25-21 win over Hogan.
With Keith Sharman’s rink, the final match still in play, the scoreline had Mildura in front by a shot with two ends to play.
Lynch played a bomb on the 24th end to trail the Jack and score two shots to give the Suns the lead and a sniff.
On the changeover, the Suns held three shots and the match and two attempts by Sharman to kill the end missed their target.
The Suns booked their place in the grand final 66(10) to 62(2).
At Blackburn Park, Ouyen welcomed the Workers unit to contest the first semi-final. The winner could look forward to remaining in the hunt for a grand final berth and for the loser; curtains.
Selectors sharpened their pencils at the Workers selection table and made some inspiring moves in an attempt to rejuvenate the Green and Gold. Mike Legin returned to lead, Craig Harker was promoted to Skip and Roger Bray back to Third. Peter Mitchell to Third for Ken Job.
The moves paid dividends as Butch Pollock, Nev Mitchell, Peter Bishop and Fred Bacon rolled Sue Kelly 27-20 to get the new enterprise bargaining agreement some traction.
Harker had a tough first-up assignment as skip against Steve Simmonds but had his collective of Bray, Hayes and Legin signing on to collect a 25-21 win.
Job had his unit of Peter Mitchell, Darren Cordwell and Ron Archer firing darts over Janet Vallance’s rink to score a 25-22 win.
This final was a closely fought match throughout but the Workers unit combined well to record a 14-shot victory, 77(12) to 63(0).
Division 2
Second division saw minor premiers Mildura scrape home against a fast-finishing Nangiloc to record a three-shot win and a shot at back-to-back flags.
Nangiloc’s Ben Mansell toiled away consistently against Bill Hobbs, with Alan Erskine at Third providing a steady influence for the 22-19 win.
Jamie Forte played an aggressive game against Mildura’s John Underwood to collect the second rink win for the Loc 23-19.
With two rinks in and a seven-shot buffer, Magic’s Garry Holmes, Shirley Pupillo, Val Munro and Bernie Sharp had the job in front of them with two ends to play, holding a match-winning lead. Holmes piloted the side home, collecting a 25-15 win for the Magic.
At Irymple, the Suns second side took on Red Cliffs for a spot in the preliminary final and ran out comprehensive winners 100(12) to 44(0).
Graeme Phillips’ rink of Ian Kellett, Geoff Madigan and Wayne McDonald found an early edition of the Daily and added to the script with a match-winning 40-13 win over Maurie Press.
John Harmer, Ian McLean, Tracie Storer and George Millward had control of their match and collected a 28-18 win over Michael Clifford.
Not to be outdone, Phil Newton, Gus Storer, Phil Connell and Chris Scott took out Fred Guigno 32-13.
Division 3
Third division saw Ouyen scrape home by two shots over Irymple to book a spot in the final at Coomealla 78(10) to 76(2).
Joan Pohlner’s rink of Reg Dean, Col Willox and Val Latta recorded a solid 32-22 win over Peter Lambert.
Don Pohlner had his rink of Rod Poole, Rodger Anderson and Rod Fuller finishing the stronger over Gaudern Gray 24-20 to give the Two Blues a 14-shot lead.
The Suns’ Lorraine Millward had her trio of Terry Wright, Rod Atkins and Gary Metcalfe in full flight as they attempted to run down Terry Pitcher and his amigos.
Millward got the job done with a 34-22 win but fell agonisingly short of lifting her side in o the winners box.
Underbool played host to Mildura and managed to book a spot in Saturday’s preliminary final with a 69(10) to 62(2) victory.
Colin Lockett’s rink of Alan Stone, Ray Gloster and Alan Willsmore proved the difference with a 26-17 win over Allan Jones.
Division 4
Fourth division ladder leaders Coomealla accounted for Wentworth in a tight match 70(10) to 65(2).
Harold Bradley’s rink of Rob Nichols, Ron Kuhn and Rob “Robot” O’Brien were the match winners with a 29-22 win over Ivan Behsmann.
Third-placed Euston took out Red Cliffs in a tight match 76(10) to 66(2).
Side captain Glenn Scott brought his experience and skill sets to the fore setting up a 31-17 win for the Bandits to secure an overall win.
