MOUNT Gambier RSL selectors faced a challenge in compiling its pennant bowls sides on Saturday without pulling bowlers from teams with finals aspirations.
Many of the Mount Gambier RSL’s top bowlers were in Adelaide still playing in the men’s Country Carnival knockouts or waiting to represent Region 1 in the Country Round Robin.
Despite the lack in numbers, Mount Gambier RSL’s depth was evident in the positive results.
Division 1
Mount Gambier RSL Red 91/16 d Millicent 49/0
A SURPRISINGLY easy game greeted Mount Gambier RSL Red when it hosted Millicent in the Lower South East Bowling Association’s Saturday pennant.
Mount Gambier RSL had a complete rink of Robert Corner, Deane Wilkinson, Chris Waugh and Andy Ashby missing.
They were replaced by Simon Attiwill, John Schroder, Andrew Simpson and Michael Fox (skip) who produced a 34-17 win against David Crase, Dirk Pietersma, Neil Whelan and Terry Barnes.
Jason Kuring, Craig Pearson, Peter Roachock and Neil Tobin (skip) kept control of their game against Lindsay Warneke, Glen Tilley, Rod Gibbs and Bryan Roper (skip) and limited their opposition to mostly singles while jumping ahead to win 34-14.
The closest match-up saw John Heaver, Jamie Lambert, Ralph Stafford and Graham Ellis (skip) against Alan Correll, Andrea Radley, John Scudds and Iain Campbell (skip).
Ellis has had a solid record in his first year as skip and continued the run with a 23-18 win.
Mount Gambier RSL Blue 99/16 d Naracoorte RSL 60/0
FINALS are still in Mount Gambier RSL Blue’s sight after a 39-shot victory to Naracoorte RSL on the road.
Dougie McPhail, David Edwards, Ben Masters and Glenn Wright (skip) had the opportunity to reverse their Round 7 loss against Jon Buckley’s four.
Wright’s team had the ascendancy and won 33-21.
Tim Wrightson, Harry Childs, Ian MacIntosh and Strawb Masters (skip) played David O’Shaughnessy’s team.
The RSL ran away in multiples to be 19-2 after the eighth end.
Naracoorte RSL was competitive for the rest of the game, but Mount Gambier RSL had inflicted the damage and won 33-19.
It was similar on the third rink, where Graham Smith, Fiona Pearson, Greg Whitehead and Ron Ploenges (skip) started well.
They answered a mid-game rally from Greg Mark’s four to win 33-20.
Division 2
Kingston 67/14 d Mount Gambier RSL Red 58/2
MOUNT Gambier RSL Red pulled up nine shots short against Kingston on the road.
Ian Colbey, David Anderson, Bob Milligan and Noel Miller (skip) began well against Derek Trott, Jeff Pope, Mike Newton and Bill Scott (skip), but were then held scoreless for nine ends.
Mount Gambier RSL regained the momentum to move seven shots ahead, but failed to finish off the game and lost 18-22.
Paul Griffiths, Ron Cook, Graham Dent and Ian Moulden (skip) were unable to keep their previous weeks’ good form rolling along and were out-bowled by Ian Heatherington, Darryl Morely, Gary Possingham and Alan Emery (skip), 18-24.
Max Schultz, Graham Crowder, Ron Edlington and Wayne Legutko (skip) came from behind to overcome Bill Armfield, Brett McLaren, Andrew Ogilvie and Colin Bobridge in the second half.
Kingston had the better of the closing ends, but Legutko’s four held on to win 22-21 and take home the only points for the day.
Mount Gambier RSL Blue 0/8 d/w Frances 0/8
AN URGENT bush fire message was sent to Frances players just seven ends into their game with Mount Gambier RSL Blue, which saw the sides settle for a draw.
The two sides subsequently shared eight points each.
It is highly unlikely the result will impact the composition of the final four as they sit eighth and ninth on the ladder.
Division 3
Mount Gambier RSL Red 94/14 d Mount Gambier RSL Blue 62/2
MOUNT Gambier RSL Red proved too strong for its sister Blue side and won by 32 shots.
However, the game was not completely dominated by Red.
Mount Gambier RSL Blue’s Laurie Franklin, Wally Brown, Jane Crowder and Kym Franklin (skip) caused an upset by handing the Phillip Wilson, Brenton Wittwer, Shirley McIntyre and Albie McIntyre (skip) combination its first loss of the season.
The lead see-sawed, but Franklin’s four dominated the last eight ends to win 30-23.
Mount Gambier RSL Red’s John Preece, Roy Montgomery, John Maher and Bob White (skip) were too strong for Don Whitmore, Ken McCormick, Helen Moulden and Eileen Cruise (skip) and won 35-17.
Kevin Mott, Keisha Pearson, Fleur Roachock and Tony Freeman (skip) denied Mount Gambier RSL Blue’s Bruce Holland, Rick Chirgwin, Gavin Clements and David Klem (skip) many scoring opportunities and claimed a 36-15 victory.
