Queenscliff untouchable
QUEENSCLIFF continued its stranglehold on GBR Division 1 Pennant following its 15-1 (20-shot) win over Lara in the penultimate round of Midweek Pennant for 2017 yesterday.
Barry Gladman, making his third appearance on the Midweek greens this season, led by example with a 12-shot win over the Garry Hinch rink, which sees Queenscliff 34 points clear at the top of the ladder.
Gladman maintained a perfect three from three wins with strong support from his rink of Dianne Price (lead), Denise Clark (second) and Dianne Roberts (third).
Conditions were perfect with the breeze keeping players cool as the bowls ran truly on the Lara green.
The Barrie Close rink improved its midweek performances with an eight-shot win over the Alan Gillett rink with each player contributing.
Close has now won eight of the 11 rounds played and sits in fourth place on the skips ladder.
Torquay held on to fourth position with a close threeshot win over Leopold.
Torquay now sits eight points clear of fifth-placed Ocean Grove and sixth-placed Leopold, both on 104 points.
The highlight battle of the day was between the Nicole Shortis (Leopold) rink and the Alan Sampson (Torquay) rink.
Bowling well, it was a win to the Shortis rink by a comfortable seven shots that sees the rink still on top of the skips ladder with 10 wins and a draw from the 11 matches played.
City of Geelong took a step forward holding down second place on the ladder after its 27shot win over Ocean Grove (2) on the Drumcondra grass.
With David Gunsser leading superbly, the No.2 CoG rink skippered by Jacqueline McLaren took the points over the Val Cook rink by a com- manding 22-shots that paved the way for the CoG victory.
Highton scored the top win of the day with its 16-0 (18shot) clean sweep over Ocean Grove (1) on the Grove green.
The all-female rink of Belinda Koek (lead), Elaine Coles (second), Wendy Ballentine (third) and Dianne Monk took all before them with a top nineshot win over the Rod Brehaut rink.
In the battle of the cellar dwellers it was first blood to Portarlington by 16-0 (28shots) over Geelong Cement.
The Port highlight of the day was the winning performance from its No.1 rink where Lucy Skowronski skippered her side of Margaret Grey (lead), Dianne Dennis (second), and husband Wally to a thrilling and top 20-shot win over the Keryn Awty rink.
In division 2 it was another winning day for top of the table St Leonards, beating Highton by 31 shots.
Geelong RSL beat Point Lonsdale to move into fifth place on the ladder only three points outside the four, while Clifton Springs caused the upset of the day with a 14-2 (4shots) win over more fancied Bannockburn on the Springs green.
Round 12 will be the final round for 2017 before competition resumes on January 16 for round 13.