THE Irymple Suns defeated Mildura Magic in the final of Bowls Sunraysia Division 1 Pennant, played under the dome at Coomealla on Saturday.
Mildura looked the goods after 36 ends, holding a slender seven-shot lead.
Mark Eckel’s rink of Ken Yeowart, Russell Kneebone and Judy Osborne dominated Tanner Dickson-Arthur’s rink to hold a 17-shot margin, with Eckel making several conversions.
Bob Deacon was holding sway with Graeme Lynch at nine-all, but it was the Suns’ Tom Hogan who had control of his game over Chris Mitchell that kept his side within striking distance.
Following the tea-break, the Suns moved up a gear and quickly reeled in the deficit and took the lead.
Mildura, well-known for their strong finishes, narrowed the margin to two shots but the Suns responded.
Graham Lynch’s rink of Darren Cass, Anthony Kelly and Trevor Flack dug deep and edged away from Bob Deacon’s rink to win 27-12.
Chris Madigan, playing as lead for Hogan, put of an exhibition of quality draw shot bowling setting up the head throughout the day.
He was ably the assisted by “The Voice”, Matt West at second and Murray Fazulla at third, all big contributors on the day. Hogan’s rink running out 30-13 winners over Mitchell.
Dickson-Arthur got his rink of Wayne Gardner, Rob Hogan and Col Sherriff on the move after the break and narrowed the final margin to six shots, losing 20-26 to a gallant Eckel.
Irymple worthy winners by 26 shots, 77-51.
Division 2
Mildura’s second division side combined well to make it back-to-back flags with a convincing 18-shot win over Irymple.
Bill Hobbs, Peter Ellis, Glenys Yeowart and Chris Barry tied 21-all with Graeme Phillips, Ian Kellett, Geoff Madigan and Wayne McDonald.
Garry Holmes, Shirley Pupillo, Matt Osborne and Bernie Sharp were too solid all day for the Suns’ John Harmer, Russ Lynch, Tracie Storer and George Millward winning 30-22.
Jon Underwood piloted his rink of Reg Gardner, Graeme Hobbs and Graeme Young to a 25-15 win over Phil Newton, Gus Storer, Phil Connell and Chris Scott.
Mildura won 76-58.
Division 3
Irymple responded in Division 3 with a 10-shot win over Ouyen.
Lorraine Millward took control of her rink and guided Gary Metcalf, Rod Atkins and Terry Wright to a 35-20 shot win over Terry Pitcher, Roy Latta, Barry Dean and Karen Crook.
The Two Blues’ Joan Pohlner had Reg Dean, Col Willox and Val Latta on autopilot as they squared the ledger win a 15-shot win over Peter Lambert, John Vuik, Graham Bamford and Julie Lowerson.
The Suns’ shining light was Gaudern Gray who skipped Dinkie Nichols, Michael Cass and Tracey Metcalf to a 28-18 win over Geoff Hahnel, Rod Poole, Nev Jay and Rod Fuller.
The Irymple Suns took out a highly competitive final 76 shots to 66 shots.
Division 4
Fourth division finalists Coomealla and Wentworth faced off for the fifth time this season.
The Cannons have had the wood over the Steamers and started strong favourites, but the early going was tough as the Steamers were putting up a fairly solid fight.
Rodger Smith, Trevor Page, Ann Dawes and Rod Baird took the game right up to Delwyn Milner, John Terbogt, Nan Bath and Ron McAdam, with the latter prevailing 24-21 in a tough encounter.
Father Time, Harold Bradley, took control of proceedings for the Cannons as he had Rob Nichols, Ron Kuhn and Rob “Robot” O’Brien all dialled in to win 35-15 over Jake Ralph, Haden Baird, Mick Goodrem and Jeremy Pappin.
Coomealla’s Ian Gibson chimed in to make a clean sweep when he skipped Ian Fraser, Rod Rowe and BrianWakefield to a 27-16 win over Ivan Behsmann, Alan Behsmann, Alistair Baird and Dianne Pumpa.
The Cannons winning 86 -52.
