WITH one round to play before the break, some trends continued this week during bowls contests.

All divisions had highest team scores in the low 30s and side scores varied from 55 in division four to 87 in division two.

The Memorial v Grangeburn game down south was the closest of division one contests, with seven shots separating the fourth and sixth-placed sides. 

When the game was signed off, the two sides remained in the same spots, but Grangeburn was better off by 16 points.

Des Pitts lost to Ken Prewett, 15-17, Greg Hoggan faired similar against Bert Partington, 15-19, and Ken Evans team got a couple of extra shots but went down to Robyn Thomassen, 17-18.

Overall scores settled on Memorial 47 and Grangeburn 54.

The next closest game was Hamilton at home to Balmoral and here the difference was 17.

Hamilton grabbed 14 points via Bill Satchell, with a 21-18 win against Tom Simons, Norm Pech 28 to Pete Merryfull 12, and Trotty reversed the trend when Richard Martin got 20 and his team 22, leading to a 69-52 result.

Extending the differences, Penshurst scored 71 at home and the Casterton visitors rolled up 49.

There was one draw, so not all points went to the water garden.

Trev Landwehr 28 to Andy Alderton 14, Cam Wilson with the motley crew won 22 to Neil Shannon another 14, and a 21-21 draw between David Cook and Styx Russell.

So, we turn back down south, and Heywood set up for Portland but things didn’t go too well for the home side.

Mick Hogan with 10 to Peter Cottier 32, Rick Angelino 16 to Bob Bowden 27 and the senior Angelino, John, lost to Lindsay Gruar 19-22.

Final totals were 81-45.

Out of all the above, Hamilton and Balmoral swapped places again and the rest remained status quo.

Ladder: Hamilton 103, Balmoral 99, Portland 94, Memorial 71, Heywood 65, Grangeburn 61, Penshurst 58, and Casterton 25.

Division two

RESULTS meant it was pretty steady on the ladder, but Memorial and Portland Blue swapped in the middle.

Two home sides won and the largest score of the round was in this division.

To start with the ladder change, Memorial played Portland Blue and Gerry Watt lost to Allan Warburton, 15 to 18, Leonie Buchanan got 12 but Reg Alexander got 27.

The tight one was between Peter Fasoli and Allan Palmer, finishing at 21-21, meaning totals were 48 to 66, to help Blue up while Memorial went down a spot.

Portland Gold got the star prize with 87 against Hamilton Green 45.

Tom Alexander’s team with 33, the highest off all division totals, to Jim Brody 18, Barry Huppatz did enough to win, 26-12, against Dennis Gay, and John Rappard 28 to Max Spiller 15.

Back up north the second of four games at home was between Hamilton Gold and Macarthur.

The home side had a win, and scores were 65-48.

Maurice Jolly back on track with Tom Alexander 23 to Anthony Bourke 13, Trev Schultz 22, who now joins the toppies with seven wins from nine games, to Jean Schroeder 16, and Alan Crane 20 to Clifton Tonissen with a last bowl getting to 19.

Port Gold has now had eight weeks on the top spot and Hamilton Gold eight in second.

Ladder: Portland Gold 121, Hamilton Gold 114, Portland Blue 78, Memorial 67, Macarthur 33, and Hamilton Green 19.

Division three

THE merry-go-round continued with the finish of the third round.

Memorial at home to Coleraine scored 67-44.

Tink Imbi with 16 to Allan Mcintosh 14, and Meredith Fredericks 19 to Bruce Armstrong another 14.

David Garnier collected the scoop with 32 to Steve Cooper 16. 

Hamilton played Grangeburn at home as a reverse venue post the last meeting with a home team win, 67-47.

Graeme Wallis 24 to John Colcott 19, Fred Hardy 14 to Bill Edge 24 and Peter Clapham 19 to Lesley Stewart 14.

I must mention probably to her embarrassment, Wendy Colcott led for the Stewart team and would have easily won a singles championship with the way she bowled.

Ladder: Hamilton 81, Coleraine 80, Grangeburn 76, and Memorial 51.

Division four

THE division was affected by Covid again, with rules stating if a club must forfeit, in our case can’t play because of Covid then the lowest ranked side is the one to be withdrawn.

This time it was Coleraine, which was to play Penshurst, so the points are shared.

Hamilton Gold at home defeated Heywood, 43-20. Miriam Tonissen 19 to Jan Hamblin nine, and Norm Schwarz 24 to Graeme Prescott 11.

Dartmoor travelled to Macarthur and things went pretty well for the visitors.

Carole Dunn came up against Redeye Kerr and the scores were 7-31.

Roger Moodie drew Peter Holmes and a similar result, 14-24, so added together Macarthur 21 to Dartmoor 55.  

Balmoral hosted Hamilton Green and won by seven shots.

The results included P. Rees 26 to Jim Nichol 15, and Paul Raggatt 17 to Nev Blackmore 21, leading to 43-36 at the end.

The final result was from a forfeit, this time no Covid involved, so Casterton being the forfeiters received no points and lost 15 shots. 

Grangeburn received 14 ladder points and 15 shots.

Ladder: Dartmoor 101, Coleraine 98, Balmoral 82, Penshurst 71, Grangeburn 58, Casterton 54, Heywood 52, Hamilton Gold 42, Hamilton Green 37, and Macarthur 35.