GRAND final week in the Lower South East bowls Open Pennant competitions culminated with all roads leading to the Bob Cranwell Centre with the four Saturday Open Pennant premierships decided.
Mount Gambier Bowls Club enjoyed a home-ground advantage in the Division 1 decider, with the Reds playing cross-town rivals Mount Gambier RSL Red.
The stage was set for a great contest with a huge crowd enjoying the good bowls on display.
The early ends went to the visitors who took a lead on one rink, with the scores close on the other two.
The rink of Jim Philpott, Kristy Errock, Daniel Langdon and Brad Errock were able to take an early lead against the Chris Waugh skippered RSL rink and lead by nine shots after 12 ends.
The visitors fought back to tie it up after 22 ends, but the Reds fought it out to win 28-23.
The rink of Dougie McPhail, Mick Ashby, John Reppin and Tony Bowditch were jumped early by the Graeme Ellis skippered RSL team, but were able to fight out the game to give their team a chance for a win in the last few ends.
The Reds rink of Neil Blakey, Peter Reppin, Tony Renzi and Greg Carpenter were matched up against the Michael Fox RSL rink and a great game was played out, with the lead changing hands several times.
The home team struggled to break free from the visitors, but were able to lead 24-19 after 23 ends.
The overall margin held by the visitors was reduced to four shots at the beginning of the 24th end.
However, the visitors played an excellent 24th end, securing six shots and going on to win 29-24 to claim the 2022 / 2023 Division 1 premiership with the overall score 83-70.
