BERWICK BOWLS
Berwick Bowling Club has had great reward for a long arduous season over the past week in what many are saying is the most successful year the club has had in its proud 91-year history.
The club has won sectional flags, played off for one divisional flag already and still has more sectional and divisional flag finals to play for!
• SIDE 1 – Section Premiers
The Ones finished on top of the ladder and as such earned the right to host the section semi-final on Saturday against fourth place Beaumaris.
The game started well for the Wickers and all rinks had started impressively.
By the break, Berwick had all the momentum and there was a slight worry that the break may interrupt the momentum and cost them in their biggest game of the year.
But it wasn’t to be, the Ones came out…put their foot on the pedal and continued to dominate the game and came away with a 28-shot overall win.
Josh McQueen’s rink dominated its Beaumaris opponent to set up the win.
M Keel, G Manifold, L Ash and J McQueen won 32-10, P O’Day, E Wilson, D Bond and S Ellard won 31-17, A Clements, J Parker, P Hodgson and E Mills lost 17-20 and J Horwood, A Bunnell, L Edwards and J Rich lost 15-26.
Grand Final
The win on Saturday then set up a mouth-watering sectional grand final against Keysborough at Burden Park Bowls Club on Sunday.
Keysborough has tinkered with its rink set ups over the past few weeks so although it was one win each throughout the home and away season, we weren’t sure how the new set ups would match up against the Wickers Ones in the grand final.
What a game it turned out to be!
Some of the bowls were of the highest standard and the lead changed hands on a few occasions before the break. There was a bit of a nervous start across a few rinks and the Ellard rink was down well early against one of the state’s best female bowlers and her rink.
Rich’s rink got off to a great start and the rinks of Mills and McQueen had settled in for a tight tussle by the break.
Berwick in with a three-shot overall lead and the tensions of a close game were evident.
With five ends and an overall lead of 10, the Wickers looked to be home and through to next week’s Divisional Semi-Final.
But………in true grand final fashion there was another twist to the tale!
McQueen’s rink dropped a big number on their second last end and with four rinks all on their last end Berwick had a four-shot lead.
Again, there was some great bowls across the four rinks in the last breath…but the Wickers took all four rinks to win the game by eight shots overall and collect the Section Grand Final Premiership!
J Horwood, A Bunnell, L Edwards and J Rich won 23-16, P O’Day, E Wilson, D Bond and S Ellard won 19-15, A Clements, J Parker, P Hodgson and E Mills lost 17-22 and M Keel, G Manifold, L Ash and J McQueen won 21-19.
The Ones now play Fitzroy at Alphington Bowls Club and one more win will see them progress to the Divisional Grand Final and, more importantly, a place in the Victorian Premier League!
It’s the biggest and best pennant competition in the state, not only is that a privilege to be playing against some of the states, countries and even world’s best bowlers but it is one of the hardest places to gain for any club.
It’s an amazing effort and one that should be congratulated and celebrated.
Well done Ones and good luck this coming weekend.
• SIDE 3 – Section Premiers
As we know, the Threes won their Section Grand Final last week and this weekend progressed to the Divisional Knockout Final against Thornbury 1 at Ringwood Bowls Club on Saturday.
A win would see them advance to the Divisional quarter final at Burden Park on Sunday.
They started well and took the lead early with all rinks going ok and going in to the break with a very narrow lead.
The return after the break saw the Threes continue on until the business ends started.
They fought to the very end but Thornbury had a little more luck in the remaining ends to get their noses in front.
Although they went down overall on the day the side had a great game and fantastic season to win their section and continue to improve. Such an awesome effort, and the improvement and experience our bowlers received throughout the season continues to add to our depth and improvement as a club.
D Fitzpatrick, J Reddy, C Jensen and K Graeber won 27-20, M Nagle, T Livingstone, B Anderson and K Dalman lost 23-13, J Weir, L McCurran, K Mackie and C Mills lost 16-19 and J Saunders, A Thompson, R Benning and C Fothergill drew 16-16.
• SIDE 7 – Section Premiers
The Sevens were amazing this season and nearly pulled off a fantastic win on the weekend in their Divisional Semi-Final to win their way through to the following weekend.
We continued to receive messages throughout the day for those that weren’t there that the Sevens were narrowly in front and that continued to the break and again after.
When the game got to within the last 10 ends the Sevens lost the lead and the MCC side powered to the finish line and finished the game winning by 11-shots overall.
It was only the last 10 ends that the MCC side took over and what a fantastic effort that Berwick produced for the season.
It was a low-scoring game and a great effort by all that played in the team this season.
A sectional grand final premiership to their name and only one win away from a spot in the Divisional Grand Final. What a fantastic effort!
C McLary, K Fewster, M Jorgensen and T Wood lost 12-19, R McIntyre, H Adair, L keel and R McGrath lost 20-21 and J Young, J Pearson, P Adair and A Reina lost 13-16.
-John Rich-
