IN one of the best grand final days seen in ages, all results were tumultuous in their own way.
One by one shot, one by two and one defying the odds; the fourth result was not as close but that is how the rub of the green works sometimes.
DIVISION one grand finalists converged at Hamilton after all the goings on towards the end of the home and away, as Memorial ended up playing Balmoral for the second time in the finals, having won the semi-final.
The first end saw one to each Balmoral team, and at end 15, the scores were 14-5 in favour of Balmoral.
Balmoral held a 26-16 advantage at end 26 and the bulk of the lead was due to Peter Merryfull with Chick Trotman, Mark Staude and Paul Stanislawski, rolling up 10 shots to three against John Wallis with Tom Englezos, Chris Fleming and Ian Grayson.
On rink one, Memorial’s Ken Evans, Ken Woolley, Jim Scott and Shane Martin went toe to toe with Tom Simons, Derek Brody, Sean Merryfull and Ryan Lloyd Jones.
On rink three the situation was similar with Balmoral’s Nev Trotman, Tony Gore, Darcy Trotman and Dan Brody just in front of Des Pitts, Greg Hoggan, Chris Elford and Kim Overall.
At end 45, the scores were 12 to 14, 10 all and 17 to four, as Balmoral round its form.
The trend continued with plenty of barracking for both sides and at the final end, Balmoral was the victor, 56 to 39.
The celebrations were high-spirited, as it was Balmoral’s first ever division one premiership.
DIVISION two honour was between Casterton and top rung finisher, Portland.
We thought the first game was great, but what about this one, which was played at Heywood and was as close as it could be all day.
Three games finished at different times, so the tension was awesome.
The description of timing may not be dead accurate as yours truly wasn’t presen, however, the first to finish was the game between Tom Alexander with Ken Fisher, Maree Matters and N. Turnbull against Casterton’s Neil Shannon, Kaye Murrell, Nancy Sharram and Sandra Smolders with the scores reading 21 to 22.
Heather Burgess, Richard Speers, P. King and Dianne Huppatz, on the last end, were two shots up on Andy Alderton, Shirley Williams, Ian Humphries and Glenis O’Connell until the Casterton team was able to get a draw at 22-22.
Tony Hogan, Alan Warburton, Leigh Hoffman and B. Clay were banging bowls against Styx (Gary) Russell, Mick Kearns, Brett Van As and Fay Morrow.
This game was two ends behind the others. The Portland team was three shots in front with the last end to play, holding shot and the end was killed by Styx.
Playing it again, Mick Kearns had a drive and killed it.
Kearns again had a couple of beauties and this time Hogan had an upshot and put one of Kearns’ touchers in the ditch.
It looked like a draw was imminent, until Styx took a deep breath and drew it cold, measure the ditch bowl and Casterton won the flag by one shot.
It is unbelievable to have two draws and a one- shot margin across the day.
DIVISION three was back at Hamilton between the two local sides.
Hamilton Gold was the top finisher and Hamilton Green finished second, setting up an enthralling match-up.
The Gold side flew away to a big early total and it looked like a one-sided contest.
The margin was 20+ shots at mid game, but not to be disgraced, the Green side made a comeback and the pressure was on again.
Hamilton Gold players, Ken Fort, Ray Fary, Peter Graham, and Derek Hill defeated Green’s Max Spiller, Duncan McCrae, Norm Schwarz and Keith Dunn, 24-18.
Peter Clapham, Graeme Pitman, Carolyn Schurmann and Trevor Huff lost an early lead, but still defeated Geoff Woods, Edwin McLean, Geraldine McDonald and John McDonald, 19-16.
So, before the final score card was filled in, the figures were 43-34.
Tom Storer, Wayne Tuffnell, Neville Blackmore and Ronny McDonald rolled up 17 for Gold, while Cliff Brinkman, Peter Anson, Lance Burland and Gerard Lucas weren’t going to see a whitewash and scored 24.
The totals were 60 to Gold and 58 to Green after a stunning third contest, but saw Gold claim club bragging rights and the division three premiership.
DIVISION four didn’t quite live up to the same thrilling level, as Hamilton Gold had things go its way from the start.
Kevin Buck with Miriam Tonissen, Graeme Langsworth and Mal Brinkman held Ross Kerr, Neil Murrell, R. Cussen and L. Read at bay to win, 26-18.
On the next rink, Barry Dowling, Kay Satchell, Geoff Kerr and Neville Huff defeated Peter Holmes, Ian brown, N. Foote and Phil Jones, 24-12, to see Hamilton easily account for Dartmoor, 50 to 30.
Other news
The regional finals are underway, and our representatives are doing us proud, win lose or draw.
The singles were played at Warrnambool on Sunday and in the women’s section, these are pathway events to higher levels.
Robyn Thomassen was defeated by the Western rep and in the men’s section, Richard Martin won through to the final, but was defeated by Corangamite’s rep, Peter Inglis.
In the fours, our local team was Heather Burgess, Chick Trotman, Ann Rentsch and Alison East they were defeated, 24-12, but were taken aback by long ends on a quite heavy green.
Next weekend the pairs and the mixed pairs will be played at Portland Memorial.
