Drouin wins final in division four

Drouin won the division four premiership in the West Gippsland Bowls Division grand final on Tuesday.

Drouin had two teams make the Midweek pennant grand finals played at Traralgon and Trafalgar bowling clubs.

Division one: Drouin lost to Warragul 53/54. Drouin’s division one team lined up against Warragul and was defeated by a single shot after 63 ends of close bowling.

Jan Aubrey’s team of Pauline Appleyard, Brian Thorpe and Graeme Aubrey lost 19/24. Sheryl Atkinson's team of Mary Firth, Les Firth and Andrew Blaby won 18/14. Maureen Leighton’s team of Denise Hamilton, John Leighton and Bob Cole drew 16/16.

Division four: Drouin (3) defeated Traralgon (5) 37/35.

The match was played at Trafalgar with Drouin winning overall in a tight game by two shots.

Traralgon looked on top early as they took a large lead on one rink whilst Drouin held a small lead on the second.

Maria Wans’ team of Maureen McMillan, Ian Haughton and Lorraine Fox was down 1/21 early. When the Gazette photographer arrived, the Drouin team assigned a member to stand in front of the scoreboard so that Drouin’s appalling score would not be seen in any photographs.

However, this proved a turning point as Drouin’s losing rink steadied. Led by “Norm Smith Medallist” Maureen McMillan, they made a brilliant comeback to lose by only five shots, 18/23.

Margaret Owens’ team of Irene Dawson, Andre De Waele and Ruth Waring led all day and won 19/12.

This gave Drouin an overall win of two shots. Drouin (3) now has the opportunity to climb into division three and remove the bye from that competition.

Above: Celebrating a two-shot win over Traralgon in the division four grand final on Tuesday are Drouin Bowling Club’s team (from left) manager Joan Lang, Irene Dawson, Ruth Waring, Ian Haughton, Maria Wans, Margaret Owens, Maureen McMillan, Andre De Waele, Lorraine Fox and emergency Gerry Wakefield. Left: Drouin’s division one runner-up team are (back, from left) Bob Cole, John Leighton, Brian Thorpe, Andrew Blaby, Les Firth, Andy Kidd, Graeme Aubrey, (front, from left) Maureen Leighton, Jan Aubrey, Margaret Schofield, Mary Firth, Denise Hamilton, Pauline Appleyard and Sheryl Atkinson.

Left: Drouin’s Maureen McMillan urges the bowl to stop as she watches the action unfold alongside Traralgon’s Carmel Smith in the division four grand final. Maureen was said to be the “Norm Smith Medallist” for leading a brilliant comeback.

Above: Andre De Waele takes aim during the division four grand final for Drouin.

Drouin’s Lorraine Fox receives advice as she steps up to the mat in the division four grand final.

Drouin’s Ian Haughton bowls against Traralgon in the division four final.