Grove prevails in thriller
THE competition’s best rink again proved the difference between winning and losing as Ocean Grove took a one-shot win over City of Geelong at Drumcondra on Saturday.
Craig Hodges and his rink of Brett Irvine (lead), Shaun Myers (second) and Chris Price (third) paved the way for the victory with its two-shot win over City’s Aaron Hyatt rink.
Irvine returned to Ocean Grove after being crowned king of the Darwin Bowls Club in 2016, while Myers and Price have had championship success in indoor bowling.
The combination, under the astute leadership of Hodges, has helped propel Ocean Grove to the Premier Division summit, nine points clear.
The Tony Joel-skippered rink was more devastating with a nine-shot win over debut skipper Rod Day’s rink.
Bareena shored up second position on the ladder with a 15-shot win over Webbcona.
The Ben Wilding rink of Drew Young (lead), Terry Hickey (second) and David Priddle (third) piled on the pressure with an eight-shot win over the Ben McArthur rink.
The biggest win came in the Queenscliff-Lara game on the 15-second Rip View green.
“Little maestro” Steve Sullivan won 39-7 over the Leigh Butcher rink from Lara.
The masterly control from Sullivan was supported by Ray Butler (lead), Dianne Roberts (second) and Barrie Close (third).
Victoria rounds out the top four with an 18-shot win over Eastern Park on a challenging green at Victoria.
The one bright light for Eastern Park was the rink win of Paul Newcombe and his lead, Stephen Ryan, second Ash Connoley and third Ken Petzierides taking a 10-shot win over the Lindsay Annear rink.
In the all-Ballarat fixture it was a crushing clean sweep points and 39-shot win to Sebastopol over BMS.
The win was Sebastopol’s fourth for the season and consolidated its third spot on the ladder.