Quaddie for Cranbourne RSL

IT was a big weekend for Cranbourne RSL when it pulled off four great back-to-back wins in both divisions three and four during the double pennant seven and eight rounds arranged by RVBA to avoid clashes with Commonwealth Games dates.
Cranbourne RSL division six (118-74) continued its winning streak with a 44-shot victory against Ferntree Gully on Saturday and their four-rinks win on home territory gained it another 18 points to keep it firmly on top of the ladder.
On Sunday it earned another 16 points at local rival Cranbourne Bowls Club with a sound (103-85) getting three rinks home for an 18-shot win.
Results, round seven, Cranbourne RSL d Ferntree Gully 118-74.
Bobby Preston’s team (39-19) was most convincing against Ferntree Gully’s K. Miller with a 20-shot win after a slow start.
Being down 2-7 at the fifth end, it then kicked into gear to win the next seven ends to be 10-up at tea.
After tea RSL kept up the pressure by capturing the next nine ends to coast home comfortably.
The successful win by skipper Bob Preston was a great test of his determination to overcome the effects of recent surgery to his bowling hand.
Gary Lacey’s team (30-21) continued its unbeaten record for the season with a nine-shot win over B. Davies.
It was a battle from the start with RSL getting away well to be two shots up at the sixth end.
The Gully got a five on the seventh putting it three in front that was answered with a three by RSL to make it even at 11-all on the eighth, but the Gully fought back hard to be one-up at the tea break.
The break worked well for RSL that came back strongly to win the next six ends, lost the next four and picked up five on the last two ends to ensure it kept its reputation and winning record intact.
Doug Ambrose’s team (28-14) was too strong for B. Williams and led all the way, being 11-shots up at tea and going on to win comfortably by 14 shots.
Shane Riddiford’s team (21-20) started off with a strong burst against Gully’s C. Vink with a 17-4 lead at tea and although RSL led all day, Gully came back strongly winning eight of the last 12 ends and eight shots on the last three.
Gully’s valiant finish was not quite enough and RSL scraped in by one shot, enabling another four-rink win to the home side.
Results, round seven, Cranbourne RSL d Cranbourne Bowls Club 103-85.
Bobby Preston’s RSL team (32-12) led all day for a comfortable 20-shot win over Cranbourne’s J. Hanks and proved he could produce a 20-shot win two days in a row.
Doug Ambrose’s team (22-18) worked hard against J. MacInnes team to be 12-all at tea, then one down on the 18th, however great leading by Len Clapperton set the scene for the final run home with a four-shot win.
Gary Lacey’s team (26-28) had to fight all the way being seven shots down at tea and although it won eight of the last 12 ends, Cranbourne’s L. Stephens’ team picked up nine after tea from just four ends to give it a two-shot win.
Shane Riddiford’s team (23-27) had a tough match against I. Badger’s team and was one shot in front at tea and stayed in front right until the 24th end when it dropped six shots on the last end to go down by four.
Cranbourne RSL d Carrum.
Cranbourne RSL division three (106-77) had a great 29-shot win away against Carrum on Saturday.
The win broke the drought for the top team after several losses.
The three-rink win will give RSL 16 points for a much-needed boost on the ladder.
Cranbourne RSL d Clayton
On Sunday RSL (94-89) had an even greater win by beating the top team on the ladder Clayton (2) by scraping in by just five shots but enough to gain another 14 points for the ladder.
Fine tuning of the pennant teams and determination of the players has played a big part in achieving the turnaround in the current performances.