PENSHURST goes to the pre-Christmas break in second place on the ladder, while Casterton goes up a spot and Hamilton defies gravity and cleans up Portland on the clifftop.

Memorial remains the leader of the pack by quite a margin, having been on the second rung for five weeks and then top for three.

The side has won 10 of 11 rounds and won 26 of 33 team games.

Penshurst has won nine of the 11 rounds and 20 of the 33 team contests.

Balmoral and Penshurst played to win until the last bowl and the visitors came out on top by one shot.

Whether the last bowl saved or won the game, only gossip will tell.

Troy Gore with 17 defeated Mick Ross at 14, Peter Merryfull 16 to Phil Allen 21, and Nev Trotman 21 cancelled that but Graham Rentsch rolled out 20.

So, final totals were Balmoral 54 to Penshurst 55.

Heywood met the Memorial leviathan at home and was gobbled up on the score cards/sheet.

Mick Swan 21 to Chris Fleming 29, Ricky Angelino 13 to Kel Wiffen 29, and Lionel Pevitt 15 to Clayton Holcombe 28.

The Wiffen team has won 10 of 11 games, with the final tally settling on 49 to 86, which is the second biggest total of the season. 

Casterton had a big day playing Grangeburn at Island Park.

Neil Shannon got 27 up to Leah McCabe 18, Andy Alderton 19 to Ruben Ross 16, and Styx Russell 24 to Bert Partington 20.

Portland was in waiting for Hamilton and had everything polished and ready to go.

A couple of changes were made to the visitors’ side, not due to form, and the result was a knock backwards to the home side.

In round four the Ports beat Hamilton by 29, but this time it was the visitors by nine, Portland 52 to Hamilton 61.

For Portland, Peter Cottier defeated Norm Pech by one.

John Rappard had the Hamish McDonald team in sync and came off at 9-25.

Lindsay Gruar had the better of Peter Graham and won, 24 to 18, but the die was cast with four points to Portland and 12 to ‘tonians.

Ladder: Memorial 151, Penshurst 130, Portland 117, Balmoral 82, Heywood 75, Casterton 56, Grangeburn 49, Hamilton 44.

Division two

TWO results made changes to four ladder spots, Memorial up Port down and the same between Coleraine and Macarthur.

The Memorial-Portland swap came about via a direct contest and the visitors won by 14.

For Portland, Alan Warburton 16 to Ted Leahy 23, and Andy Smail got stuck on 15 to Gerry Watt 22.

Heywood in the wind had hopes of getting Hamilton Gold back below them but to no avail.

Coral Stephens 17 to Jim Brody 27, and Radar Langford matched the previous 17 to Gordon Scott 24.

Gold’s total was 51 and number seven maintained.

Grangeburn played Hamilton Green and 22 was the margin here in the visitors’ favour.

John Colcott copped an onslaught and was allowed seven to Geoff Woods 26.

Nettie Ryan with 19 was beaten by Rob Thornton by three shots, as Green increased the shots total to 84. 

Coleraine and Macarthur did the about turn and the home side is now in the top four.

Steve Cooper 25 to Clifton Tonissen 17, and Bruce Armstrong with 21 powered over Bill Edge with 13, with the scoreboard showing 46-30.

Ladder: Hamilton Green 111, Memorial 99, Portland93, Coleraine 86, Macarthur 79, Grangeburn 70, Hamilton Gold 50, Heywood 28.

Division three

THREE home sides lost, and one very close result was also recorded.

Balmoral had the second Penshurst side on site and the margin was wider, but still to the visitors.

Mick McInnes 10 to Ian McLean 28, and Alan Perry was pipped by Barry King, 21 to 25, as Penshurst moved to third.

Dartmoor was at home against Portland and it seems the preference is to win away.

Darty did so in round four and Portland did it this time, thanks to Peter Holmes 17 to Leigh Hoffman 25, while Redeye Kerr’s eyes got even redder when Heather Burgess and friends had a win by three, leading to a 35-46 final score.

Now the close game and it was a one-shotter between the Hamilton Green and Hamilton Gold.

Gold was three points above Green pre play, and now Green is seven above Gold (I’m confused too).

It was close all day and Ray Fary with 17 defeated Max Spiller ‘the good shot my friend’ caller 13.

The other contest was between Miriam Tonissen and Heather McIntyre and the latter won by three.

Overall, it was a last end win by one shot, as Green won 35-34.

Grangeburn hosted three games and this one was against Memorial.

Wendy Kosch lost to Peter Fasoli, 18 to 27, and Rosemary Spencer met the Kevin Husson team in full motion and was only allowed to score seven to lose by 25.

Ladder: Memorial 123, Portland 118, Penshurst 86, Dartmoor 73, Hamilton Green 64, Hamilton Gold 57, Grangeburn 57, Balmoral 38.

Division four

WITHOUT trying to seem self-indulgent and going first, it was a great contest between Hamilton Gold and Heywood.

Peter Clapham played Corey Spruit and Barry Dowling played Daryl Moore.

On the Spruit team was a leader named Matt Thiele, who I had never met before.

Did he give the Gold team a lesson?

Leading for Corey, the consistency was good enough for a division one position in any side with eight touchers and none of them hit and runs.

He nearly always remained as shot and non-touchers always close by.

Back to results and the Corey team gave us a lesson and won, 14 to 22.

So, towards the end the Heywood side was in front.

Then the Barry Dowling team with two ends to play somehow scored a seven, well yes, they had the bowls in and around and turned things about.

Last end was two more and a 45-34 win overall made it look a little one-sided, compared with what it actually was.

Portland had a good result playing ladder toppers, Memorial Red.

Les Baker with 19 to Judi Fasoli 10, and Gary Millich with 20 to Ronnie Bramley 19, leading to a 40-29 result.

Grangeburn had a huge win over Macarthur, as Peter Moore toted up a record 46 including an eight to the opposition three.

The Moore team included Neil Sandford, Gary Harris and Kay Murrell.

Raylene Roberts 25 to Carole Dunn 17 ensured the ‘burners won, 71-20.

Penshurst had a five-shotter against Hamilton Green, 42 to 37, after Neil Manning 27 to Kevin Buck 15, and Tony Williams 16 lowered colours to Doreen Edwards 22.

To finish off the pre-Christmas round, Memorial Blue and Coleraine played all day to share the points equally.

Jan Hamblin 15 lost to Robin Salamon 19, and Rob Hamblin 22 defeated Roger Woolley 18, to see both finish with 37.

Ladder: Hamilton Gold 108 +67 shots, Memorial Red 106 +95, Portland 105 +64, Memorial Blue 102 +23, Coleraine 83, Heywood 60, Macarthur 59, Hamilton Green 54, Grangeburn 52, Penshurst 41.

The next round of Saturday pennant will be on January 20.