BOWLERS appreciated the calm and sunny conditions for Round 2 of the Open Pennant on Saturday.
The strength of Mount Gambier RSL Red proved too much for last season’s Division 2 premiers Naracoorte RSL.
The RSL Red side won 80/14 to 65/2.
Both rinks with new skippers – Graham Ellis and Chris Waugh – had solid wins which will help cement their roles this season.
Without Deane Wilkinson, the team of Tim Wrightson, Craig Pearson, Michael Fox and Andy Ashby had a close tussle against Darren Male, Lou Hirschman, Joe McGrath and Jon Buckley.
With neither side able to assert their ascendancy, the end result was a close 24-22 in Naracoorte’s favour.
Jason Kuring, Peter Roachock, Neil Tobin and Chris Waugh were off to a good start and kept ahead of Lindy Mark, Ryan O’Shaunessy, Greg Mark and David O’Shaunessy throughout to win 23-17.
Jamie Lambert, Robert Corner, Ralph Stafford and Graham Ellis were not challenged by Geoff Hurn, Bruce Brodie, Cathy Healy and Steve Mark and recorded a solid 35-24 victory.
Kalangadoo 75/14
d Mount Gambier RSL Blue 66/2
THE Division 1 Blue side played Kalangadoo at home as the Kalangadoo greens were unavailable.
In what should have been a winnable game, RSL missed the opportunity to take the points by pulling up nine shots short.
The final scores saw Mount Gambier RSL Blue 66/2 to Kalangadoo 75/14.
Gary Bowering, Graham Smith, Greg Whitehead and Ron Ploenges allowed Graham Carey’s team to dictate the terms for the first half.
The Blue side surged after the tea break but could not go on with it and lost 20-29.
Simon Attiwill, Fiona Pearson, Ian McIntosh and Strawb Masters left themselves a lot of work to do in the second half against Kym Stewart’s team.
A five on the last end enabled them to draw their rink, 26-26.
Dougal McPhail, Graham Dent, David Edwards and Glenn Wright had the upper hand for most of their game against Wayne Dowdell’s team, but drew 20-20.
Division 2
Mount Gambier RSL Red 71/14
d Frances 61/2
THE Mount Gambier RSL Division 2 Red side travelled to Frances where it won by 10 shots, 71/14 to 61/2.
Nancye Wilson, Graham Wilson, Ian Moulden and Des Moulden led throughout to card a solid win, 30-16.
Val Anderson, Gary Fox, Ron Edlington and Wayne Legutko also performed to defeat Bruce Pretlove’s team 27-16.
The combined scores provided a buffer for Ian Colbey, Bob Milligan, David Anderson and Noel Miller, who struggled against Ken Montgomery’s team and lost 14-29.
Naracoorte 72/14
d Mount Gambier RSL Blue 59/2
DIVISION 2 Blue travelled to Naracoorte and found the going tough.
John Robinson, Jim Cruise, Malcolm Williamson and John Spehr scraped in with a five on the last end to defeat Bill Krautwald’s team 24-23.
Mike Smith, John Forster, David O’Donnell and Rick Fallaize kept in touch with Terry Mahney’s team without taking the lead and lost 21-24.
Jenny Bowering, Harry Childs, Karen Doman and Ben Masters were limited to scoring mostly singles in a lean day against David Bennett’s team and lost 14-25.
Division 3
Mount Gambier RSL Red 87/16
d Mount Gambier RSL Blue 54/0
BOTH Mount Gambier RSL sides played each other in ROund 2 of the Division 3 competition.
The Red side was all class as it demonstrated its strength to win on all rinks and defeat the Blue side by 33 shots.
