The Lower South East Bowls Association Pennant competitions rolled back into action last weekend and the Port MacDonnell Bowls Club was primed for the occasion.
The club’s players were eager for play and delivered as both Division 1 teams took home premiership points.
In the Friday Pennants competition, the Bay took on Penola in the top grade at home and .
Nallia Lucas, Jennie Tilley, Carol Schmidt and skipper Heather Richards were in fine form winning their rink 32-15 over Elizabeth Copping’s side.
Sharon Perryman, Robyn Burley, Jan Dowdell and Judith Grosvenor received more opposition, but still accounted for Meredith Hinze by 14 shots.
The final score saw Port MacDonnell finish with more than double the shots of Penola.
The Bay’s Division 2 team also had a good win over Beachport Blue after a more competitive battle at home.
Lyn Jones, Lyn Vanderley, Cheryl Doddridge and skipper Elaine Pruis won 31-19 over Annemarie Goods.
Meanwhile, Shirley Taylor, Jean Fisher, Lorraine Mackereth and skipper Marilyn Sutton needed to use all of their skill to overcome Pamela Hales’ rink.
After a titanic battle, PortMacDonnell prevailed 25-23 to wrap up the 14-shot overall victory.
The Saturday Open Pennant season resumed with Port MacDonnell playing a thriller against Mount Gambier RSL.
The stage was set when the Bay’s Paul Weir, Robert Hutchesson, Wayne Dowdell and Tim Wrightson lined up against Dean Wilkinson and Chris Richards’ side.
After the sides duelled shot for shot the end, a 19-all draw was the fair result.
However, things looked to be trending Mount Gambier RSL’s way after Barrie Schmidt, Keith Dowdell, Heather Richards and Bill Richards lost another thriller to Neil Tobin’s team 17-19.
But Port MacDonnell was able to turn the tide in the third and final game.
Chris Richards led his rink of Greg Fisher, Carol Schmidt and Judith Grosvenor expertly to overcome the RSL team led by Chris Waugh 32-18.
The big win was enough for Port MacDonnell to gain a 12-shot lead and secure overall honours.
The fun at the Bay stopped when Frances proved too good in Division 3.
The long road trip proved difficult for Port MacDonnell’s Michael Glynn, Lance Fisher, Jennie Tilley and Terry Seiler as they lost their rink to Neil Frith by the heavy margin of 23 shots.
Jimmy Williams, John Naismith, Donald Forbes and Kel Butler managed to stay in the fight until the end.
However, they fell four shots short to Patrick Eylward.
Chris Negline, Victor Perryman, Kevin Osman and Danny Gaut salvaged some Bay pride overcoming Jon Buckley’s team by 10 shots.
But it was never enough to overturn the scoreboard with Frances winning 84 shots to 67.
The Bay hosted Millicent Red in Division 4, but Bill McGregor’s side the only one that could hold their head high.
Henk Sprakel, Graham Lucas, Marilyn Sutton and skipper McGregor were in fine form beating Del Parsons’ team by nine shots.
Rod Sutton, Darryl Sims, Bruce Bain and Kevin Norman were no match against Robert Radely gong down by 15 shots.
Ben Tilley, Nallia Lucas, Cheryl Doddridge and Robyn Burley fought hard, but could not stop Robert Atkinson from claiming a 18-27 win.
This result paved the way for Millicent Red to win 74 shots to 59.
The Geoff Ward Memorial also took place at the Port MacDonnell Bowls Club last week.
After a big day, Linda Ward, Kel Butler and Graham Hutchesson emerged victorious to take out the special prize.
