WEDNESDAY’S Open Midweek Pennant bowls action saw Mount Gambier Red play host to Naracoorte RSL and with wins on both rinks secured a 63-48 win.
The rink of Maryka Heaver, Peter Clark, Darryl Raneberg and Ian Von Stanke were too strong for their opponents and claimed a 36-18 win.
In the other rink, Neil Blakey, Diana Harris, Glenn Brown and Bryan Vorwerk also enjoyed a win with the score line 27-20.
The valuable eight points secured was enough to see the Reds stay in second spot on the ladder as they travel to take on Millicent Red in the next round.
Mount Gambier Blue travelled across town to play Mount Gambier RSL White and found the hosts in good form.
The rink of Bill Duncan, John Kentish, Steve Smith and Mick Spong enjoyed their day on the green and claimed a 23-17 win but was not enough to cover the other rink as the hosts sealed a 55-40 win.
The two points secured sees the Blues sitting in fifth spot in need of a win when they to travel to Naracoorte RSL in Round 13.
Saturday’s Round 16 of the Open Pennant saw the Division 1 Red team host Robe with the visitors in search of a much-needed win to climb into the top four.
The visitors started strongly as they won early ends but the Reds kicked into gear and won the three rinks for a 86-57 victory.
The rink of Neil Blakey, Peter Reppin, Tony Renzi and Greg Carpenter overcame a slow start to win 32-17, while Tim Radley, Mick Ashby, John Reppin and Tony Bowditch had to keep up with their opponents early but were able to finish on top to win 28-16.
The third rink of Jim Philpott, Kristy Errock, Daniel Langdon and Brad Errock were trailing by four shots playing the last end but were able to score a six on the last end to win 26-24 in a thrilling finale to the contest.
The 12 points cemented Mount Gambier Red’s second spot on the ladder with two games to play.
The Blues had the tough road trip to Naracoorte and found the hosts in good form as they went down 85-50.
Kathy Gray, Mick Spong, Bryan Vorwerk and Jeff England fought hard all day but went down 23-16.
The Round 17 trip to Penola awaits the Blues in their search for premiership points as they look to cement their Division 1 place for next year.
The Division 2 side hosted Robe at the Bob Cranwell Centre and the visitors returned home with a win after a close game with the final score 73-68.
Jim Butchart, Beryl Versluis, Jim Farran and Margaret Marshall continued their excellent form to win their rink 24-19 and were the best performers from Mount Gambier.
The rink of Barb Milstead, Diana Harris, Steve Smith and Ron Cox had an enthralling contest take place as the battle went down to the wire and in the end there was nothing to separate the tow sides as it ended in a 28-28 draw.
Mount Gambier currently sits in fifth spot, just three points outside the top four.
The Round 17 visit of Naracoorte will be a must win game in their search of a finals spot.
The Round 11 Division 3 South match-up for the Reds was a trip to Beachport.
The home side proved far too strong and claimed a 92-63 victory to take home all 12 points.
Neville Gilbertson, Don Fraser, Steve Praetz and John Kentish made their opponents work hard for their 28-23 win.
The Reds returned home and will look ahead to the Round 17 trip to Millicent to take on the Blues in search of premiership points.
The Blues in Division 3 South played host to Port MacDonnell Blue and secured their second win of the season with the final score 81-70.
Mavis Edgcumbe, Gary Williams, Deanna Farrenfield and Glen McCallum helped steer Mount Gambier over the line with a 31-22 win, while the rink of Norman Foote, Alwyn Goetze, Ross Kilsby and David Holland
drew with their opponents 24-24.
Mount Gambier Blue will return to action against Penola in Round 17 in a bid to claim consecutive wins for the first time this campaign.
Mount Gambier’s Brad Errock, Daniel Langdon, Tony Bowditch, Greg Carpenter, John Reppin and Peter Reppin recently travelled to Adelaide to represent their region in the Men’s State Country Round Robin competition.
The South East region went on to win its first title in 29 years after it won five of its seven games across the four days.
Brad Errock teamed up with Robe bowlers Dean Burgoyne and Glenn Wright together with Ian Willams from Naracoorte to finish second in the best-rink competition with six wins from their seven games.
