Cranbourne RSL wins thriller

CRANBOURNE RSL Bowls Club division three, number-one team had a thrilling one-shot win against Burden Park on its home greens in pennant on Saturday.
There were cheers as skipper Neil Drummond delivered the last bowl of the day on the 100th end to convert from two down to two up for the 85-84 win.
After a neck-and-neck struggle all day at the 99th end, RSL was one shot behind overall (83-84) and needed two shots to win.
Leaving the head two shots down, Drummond’s first bowl drew second shot and with superb direction from his son Ryan playing third, and a perfect delivery, he sat out the shot bowl to claim two shots and the whole game by one shot up.
Each team won two rinks, but that one extra shot gained RSL the 10 bonus points to boost its progress up the ladder.
Results, Division 3: RSL (1) d Burden Park (3) 85-84.
Daryl Wood’s team (25-11) again showed the way with a sound 14 shots win against A. Henry. After being seven all at the 10th end, RSL put the foot down and won 11 of the next 15 ends and coasted home comfortably.
Neil Drummond’s team (25-15) led comfortably all day and although their rink had a good win against K. Freestone, it was the last-end win by two shots by skipper Neil Drummond that gave RSL the overall win and was the climax of the day.
Barry Jones’ team (21-23) fought neck-and-neck all day against H. Fox who saved many shots and ends.
RSL, after being 14-all on the 17th end, won the next four ends to get seven in front on the 21st.
Burden Park won the next three to be two behind on the last end when it was holding four shots with RSL missing a desperation shot to cut it back and save the game.
Mal Watkinson’s team (14-32) had a hard day at the office against G. Ingram who kept RSL down to two ends and three shots with the score being 3-21 at tea.
After tea both sides scored 11 shots and although the 18-shot first-half lead was too much to overcome, RSL’s contribution helped gain the necessary shots to help it over the line in the final run home.
Cranbourne RSL division-six team had another great four-rink win by 57 shots to beat Narre Warren (132-75) and gain it the full 18 points and keeping it well on top of the ladder with eight straight wins.
Results: Division 6: RSL (2) d Narre Warren (2) 132-75.
Shane Riddiford’s team (43-19) gets the honours this week for the highest scorers with their 24 shot win over C. Heath.
After being one shot in front at the ninth end, RSL then kicked into gear with 14 shots over three ends to be 23-9 at tea.
They went on to win eight of the next 12 ends for a very comfortable win.
Bobby Preston’s team (32-15) had a good second-spot 17-shot win against D. Amez Dros and led all day, grabbing 17 of the 25 ends making sure there would be no doubt who would be there at the finish.
D. Ambrose’s team (31-20) convinced L. Black who was in charge by leading all day and going in for tea at 18-8 and further consolidating its lead on the home run with another 13 shots.
Garry Lacey’s team (26-21) had to work harder than the other team members to beat C. Cowley being one up at tea, 15-all at the 16th and then put on a six-end burst to be 26-17 at the 23rd when a late charge with four shots by Narre on the last two ends allowed RSL to get home by five and clinch the four rinks 18 points bonus.
LADIES
Cranbourne RSL Ladies Pennant B1 on 15 November travelled to Willow Lodge and had a 92-point win.
Lorna Ambrose 32-12, Esmay May 32-11, Sandra Bright 42-10, Helena Rogers 37-18.
B3 played Brighton Beach at home and won by 11 points.
Ann Darby 31-14 and Veronica Robertson 18-24.