Second chance for Open pennant sides

FOCUSED: Deane Wilkinson contemplates the job at hand during the Mount Gambier RSL Bowls club's Division 1 loss to Mount Gambier.

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MOUNT Gambier RSL Bowls Club Open pennant sides faced second-chance bowls last week with the chance to reach grand final positions.

The Division 1 Red side faced Mount Gambier at Millicent and needed a win for the chance to defend their pennant victory from last season.

The game was close all day and the result was not decided until the last bowl was bowled, with Mount Gambier gaining an overall 67 -64 victory.

Deane Wilkinson 21/14 and Michael Fox 21/19 both skippered their rinks to victory but a 34/22 defeat for Neil Tobin’s rink saw the RSL lose the day.

Divison 2 faced Naracoorte RSL at Penola in their quest to make the grand final.

A blistering start from all rinks created an early lead which was never headed as they went on to record a 96-49 victory.

A match-winning performance from Graeme Smith, Craig Pearson, John Robinson and Harry Childs saw them blow their opposition out of the water with a resounding 48/11 victory.

Wayne Legutko, John Spehr, Garry Fox and Fleur Roachock 22/21, together with Ian Moulden, John Schoder, Brenton Wittwer and Les James also registered wins to book a grand final berth against Mount Gambier Red.

Divison 3 had previously eased into the grand final and will meet Luncindale in this this weeks pennant decider.

Division 4 took full advantage of their second chance as they travelled to Millicent to face Beachport Red for a place in the final.

RSL had previously been beaten during the season on two occasions but it did not stop them from raising their game and defeating their opposition 82-59.

Garry Burke, Alan Coulson, Leon Fox and Dave Beaman led the charge with an impressive 38/10 win.

This was supported by Ron Cook, Lindsay Moyle, Bob Solly and Rick Chirgwin who registered a 24/20 victory.

Tony Freeman, Eileen Cruise, Bob Milligan and Geoff James went down 20/29 to a strong Beachport rink and played their part in an overall encouraging team performance going into this week’s grand final re-match with Robe.