CARDINIA WATERS BOWLS
Cardinia Waters midweek side one defeated Cheltenham at home last Tuesday to secure top spot and a home second semi-final final this week.
The final will pit them against Cheltenham again, as these two sides finished first and second on the division two ladder.
All three rinks won in this close encounter with the best win by John Van Vugt, Kel Smith, Ashley Graham and Jill Naylor who won by four shots.
Winning by three shots was the rink of Ray Naylor, John Moore, Dennis Patmore and Ron Seamer.
Helping their side with a two-shot win was the rink of Keith Lewis, Cathy Swinkels, Kerry Lewis and Paul Brindle.
Side two travelled to Parkdale for a five-shot loss.
It was a hard-fought game; however, their spirits were buoyed by the rink of Mick Knight, Ian Kennedy, Lorraine Devine and Robert Mitchell who won 25-19.
Side two was kept in the dark about the finalisation of their section five ladder after losing to Parkdale.
Later that evening it was discovered that Cardinia Waters finished in first place, by percentage only, after Mordialloc unexpectedly defeated Cheltenham.
This sees our side two also play the same Cheltenham side in a semi-final at home this Tuesday.
It will be a feast of bowls for Cardinia Waters with finals games locked in for this Tuesday and the next two Saturdays.
All these games are at home giving the village sides a big home-ground advantage.
SATURDAY REPORT
Saturday saw the commencement of the finals and both Cardinia Waters sides let their opponents know that they are serious about this…the pointy end of the season.
Side one, undefeated in the home and away rounds, kept up the pace defeating second placed Clayton by 28 shots.
This was an improvement on the twenty-shot win by Cardinia Waters last time they met.
This win gives Cardinia Waters side one a home grand final on Saturday against Clayton, who defeated Narre Warren in Sunday’s preliminary final.
Best winning rink in the Clayton game was skipped by Ray Naylor and included John Moore, Jill Naylor and Ron Seamer.
They won 27-13, after leading early in the game 14-0.
Winning by twelve shots was the rink of John Van Vugt, Kel Smith, Robert Mitchell and Dennis Patmore.
They restricted their opponents to winning only eight ends and at one stage led 16-3.
Rounding out the great team effort was Keith Lewis’s rink.
He played with Cathy Swinkels, Kerry Lewis and Bill Hite.
They won 26-17 after a magnificent score of six shots up on end 10 propelled them right back into the game.
Side two playing in the division eight semi-final at Berwick was expecting to play on grass.
However, due to the large number of Berwick home finals their game was played on rinks 25-27. These are usually used for social bowls but suited Cardinia Waters as they resemble their home green.
Winning with a massive score of 37-9 was the rink of Mick Knight, Steve Hale, Jim Barrie and Terry Nye.
They won 15 of their 21-end game and held their opponents score-less for the last eight ends.
Winning by three shots was the rink of Marie Stephenson, Stuart Tokely, Peter Mitchell and Therese Mitchell.
Behind for most of the game they won their last end by five shots to add to the sides winning score.
In a game that see-sawed all day the rink of Michele Bondfield, Ian Kennedy, Lorraine Devine and Gary Bondfield had to be satisfied with a 19-all draw.
Saturday side two will play their grand final at home on March 7, against the winner of this Saturday’s preliminary final between Berwick and Mentone Edge.
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES FINALS
Last Thursday the Ladies and Mens Singles Finals were played at Cardinia Waters.
In the Ladies Final conducted first, Del Dance played last year’s winner Cathy Swinkels.
Both ladies played well with Cathy running out the winner.
Later in the afternoon the Men’s event was conducted.
Like Cathy Swinkels, Keith Lewis made it back-to-back Singles Championships beating another previous winner, Ray Naylor.
Keith took an early lead and despite a comeback by Ray late in the game held on to win the game.
Trophies will be presented later this year.
-John Moore-
