MIDWEEK pennant resumed on Tuesday after the break, and competition heated up as the last three games will decide the finalists in all divisions.
Hamilton and Balmoral were playing for a probable fourth place on the division one ladder.
The home side had a solid win and placed the side 13 points ahead of Balmoral.
Miriam Tonissen with 14 lost to Chick Trotman 21, giving Balmoral two points.
Jenny Pole and team rolled up 36 to Trish Brody seven, and Elma Astbury pipped Nettie Tinning, 25-20, with the winning margin 28 shots.
Portland and Grangeburn played to either keep top spot or go to top spot, and before the game Portland was on 124 and the ’burners 123.
It was a close finish and in the home side’s favour by three shots.
Shirley Rogers with 27 to Alison East 20, and Kerrie Alexander with 21 to Chris Rigby 13.
Heather Burgess battled with Leah McCabe and the result was 12-24, leading to 60 to 57 totals.
Ladder: Portland 138, Grangeburn 125, Memorial 117, Hamilton 96, Balmoral 83.
Next week Grangeburn hosts Hamilton, Balmoral hosts Memorial, and Portland has the bye - by past figures will collect 14 points.
Division two
AFTER this round, the division has five sides vying for a finals spot, and Memorial leads the run and added to the points total defeating Grangeburn by 10.
Pearl Kitt got two points defeating Raelene Roberts, 20-16, and Jude Fasoli completed the sweep with 23 to Wendy Kosch 17.
Second on the ladder is Casterton and that is despite a defeat by fifth-placed Hamilton.
For the ‘tonians, under the newly updated clock tower, Robyn Donovan 14 lost to Teresa Sealey 28, but Faye Gebbert with Jim Brody, Marg Graham and Adrian Smith amassed 38 to Berniece Sullivan and team members’ seven.
Macarthur collected a win over Portland, creeping up to within seven points of Casterton.
Carol Uebergang recorded 21 to Maree Matters 13, and Bev Bourke 23 kept Val Baker to another 13, to see the final scoreboard show 44 to 26.
Penshurst was on a downer when Coleraine finished the day in front, with Brenda Uebergang 19 to Lyn Boxer 21, and Ann Rentsch 18 had Lesley Beaton on fire with 27.
Ladder: Memorial 130, Casterton 110, Macarthur 103, Coleraine 90, Hamilton 81, Portland 56, Grangeburn 54, Penshurst 48.
Division three
WOW, the pressure on here with probably six still in contention for finals.
The top four are 107 points to 98, with two not far behind.
Sixth-placed Dartmoor was at home and was narrowly defeated by fourth-placed Memorial.
Elaine Jones, the Dartmoor singles champion, defeated Julie McInnes, 19-17, and Sue Tregellis had a hard job getting to 15, as Trish Watt was the victor after rolling up 22.
Hamilton had a very difficult day, and after lightning and thunder affected one player, a sub was sought but none came forth, and as agreed by the managers, Hamilton forfeited the game to Portland.
The Hamilton teams were not in an unwinnable position but were 21 shots in arears with a few ends to go.
As a result, Portland got 14 points and a 15-shot bonus and remains on the third rung.
Grangeburn was very competitive against Macarthur in the bottom against top clash.
The result went to Macarthur by seven shots after C. Coot lost to Carole Dunn, 8–27, while Marg Hadley got 24 to Libby Marchant 12.
After the win, Macarthur is still only four points above Portland.
The final game was between Casterton and Heywood and Helen Lucas team unleashed some magic and defeated Leonie Buchanan, 21-18, and Glenis O’Connell defeated Bev Bourke, 24-18, and as a result Casterton hangs on to the second rung.
Ladder: Macarthur 107, Casterton 103, Portland 102, Memorial 98, Heywood 81, Dartmoor 78, Hamilton 58, Grangeburn 45.
Other news
THE West Coast Region played in the Region Sides Championships at the weekend.
Our Area had four players in the side and they were able to bring home a silver medal in the Silver section.
Our representatives were Chick Trotman, Leonie Buchanan, Leah McCabe and Julie Pollock.
The men’s side lost all games and are relegated back to the silver section.
The women’s section fours were played on the last two Mondays and seven teams were involved in the sectional games in Portland.
This Monday the final was played between two composite teams - Leonie Buchanan of Heywood with Leah McCabe, Chris Rigby and Irene Box of Grangeburn, and Heather Burgess Portland, with Heather McIntyre of Hamilton and Coral Barbary and Di Huppatz, Portland - and the game was a cliff-hanger.
At the finish of the mandatory 18 ends, scores were tied and so an extra end had to be player.
Portland won the toss and gave the mat to the Buchanan team. One of the bowls rolled by Box, stayed in place waiting for 15 others to do their thing and hers survived, giving the championship to the Buchanan skipped team by one shot.
Thanks to Portland and Macarthur for hosting the days.
