ROUND 7 of the Saturday Open Pennant saw the Mount Gambier RSL Bowling Club enjoy its best performance for the season, with five of the six sides winning their games.
Division 1
Mount Gambier RSL Red 97/16 d Millicent 54/0
MOUNT Gambier RSL Division 1 Red made the trip to Millicent on Saturday where it was rewarded with a win on all rinks.
Robert Corner, Deane Wilkinson, Chris Waugh and Andy Ashby out-bowled Alan Correll, Glen Tilley, Peter Scanlon and Iain Campbell to win 18 of the 25 ends for a solid 45-17 result.
In comparison, Jamie Lambert, Ralph Stafford, Michael Fox and Graham Ellis went into the break just behind Dell Parsons, Dirk Pietersma, Neil Whelan and Gary Barnes, but the RSL four dominated the second half.
Limiting Millicent’s opportunities, the side forged ahead to claim a 26-18 win.
It was a similar story for Jason Kuring, Peter Roachock, Neil Tobin and Rex Heins, as they turned the tables to claim all but two of the second-half ends against Lindsay Warneke, Lyn Scudds, Bryan Roper and Rod Gibbs.
This saw the RSL finish, recording a score of 26-19.
Mount Gambier RSL Blue 79/14 d Naracoorte RSL 72/2
THE Division 1 Blue team played at home on the weekend, hosting Naracoorte RSL for its second win of the season.
On the first rink Tim Wrightson, Ian MacIntosh, Gary Feast and Strawb Masters started slow to be behind David O’Shaughnessy’s team in the early stages, before winning 10 ends straight to take control of the game.
In the end the RSL won comfortably, 31-19.
Gary Bowering, Fiona Pearson, Greg Whitehead and Ron Ploenges led Steve Mark’s team all day to finish with a credible 34-21 result, which included two fives.
For Dougie McPhail, Ben Masters, David Edwards and Glenn Wright it was a hard-fought result as they played Jon Buckley’s four.
Staying with the visitors until the ninth end, the visitors scored in multiples to power ahead in the mid-section of the game.
Despite the eventual 14-32 loss, the Mount Gambier RSL had its bases covered on the other two rinks for the overall win.
Division 2
Mount Gambier RSL Red 79/14 d Kingston 58/2
IN the Division 2 competition, Mount Gambier RSL Red hosted Kingston and proved too strong, securing a good win for Round 7.
Kingston had the pressure on in the first half, but the guests could not sustain their effort after the break.
Paul Griffiths, Graeme Smith, Graham Crowder and Des Moulden had a tug-of-war game early on, but were unstoppable in the final 10 ends to defeat Colin Bobridge’s four 29-17.
A slow start was had by Simon Attiwill, Gary Fox, Ron Edlington and Wayne Legutko and the side left itself with plenty of work to do after the break.
However, they were able to fight their way back from a 1-17 deficit to finish just one shot down on 23-24.
This valiant effort saw the RSL claim the overall honours, after Ian Colbey, David Anderson, Bob Milligan and Noel Miller kept on top of Bill Scott’s team to win their rink 27-17.
Frances 93/14 d Mount Gambier RSL Blue 62/2
MOUNT Gambier RSL’s Division 2 Blue team was not as fortunate as its Red counterparts, as its trip to Frances resulted in a loss.
The only win for the day saw Andrew Simpson’s side lead for most of the game and hold out a last-ditch challenge from Kent Montgomery’s team to salvage two points and secure a narrow 25-24 win.
However, with losses on both other rinks, the RSL could not bring home the points for the round.
Division 3
Mount Gambier RSL Red 76/14 d Millicent Red 63/2
THE Division 3 Red team showed its strength on Saturday, as it defeated Millicent Red to make a solid claim on the top of the ladder.
The two teams have established a break on the rest of the field after seven rounds of matches and this win could be pivotal in the RSL’s season.
Bob White’s four failed to fire early in its match, but came back at Derek Bowering’s side in the last eight ends to finish down 22-28.
However, a 23-19 shot triumph from Alby McIntyre’s team over Bob Baxter’s four, accompanied by Kevin Mott, Fleur Roachock, John Maher and Tony Freeman’s impressive 31-16 shot win against John Drew saw the team secure the overall honours.
Mount Gambier RSL Blue 80/14 d Naracoorte 49/2
THE Division 3 Blue side also tasted success on the weekend, as it secured a win over Naracoorte to edge itself into third position in the premiership standings.
Craig Pearson, Rick Chirgwin, Gavin Clements and David Klem once again had a strong result, as they defeated Chris Bowden’s four 34-14.
Another solid effort came from Helen Moulden, Laurie Franklin, Kym Franklin and Les James, with the team accounting for Rex Measday’s side 26-12.
For Zac Pearson’s four, the end result was a loss for the RSL, but the side went neck and neck with Bev King’s team in a valiant effort, narrowly missing out 20-23.
