The 2021/22 Lower South East Bowls Association Pennant season came to a dramatic conclusion with a huge weekend of grand final action.
The fun began at Kingston on Friday where the women fought for their crowns.
In the top grade, Kingston had the dream scenario of contesting a premiership on its home rink.
However, Port MacDonnell spoiled the party by edging out the hosts by nine shots in a thrilling fight.
The Bay’s victory was set up by the rink of Judith Grosvenor, Jan Dowdell, Robyn Burley and Sharon Perryman, who overcame Ann Ratsch 32-21.
It was a mighty effort after the scoreboard was locked at three-all after four ends.
Port MacDonnell picked up a two and three to put pressure on with a 14-shot lead and the game was as good as over.
However, Kingston scored the next nine shots to stay alive, but the Bay picked up five shots to seal the deal.
Kingston launched a fightback at the other end led by Helen Vawser.
Coming up against the Port MacDonnell rink of Heather Richards, Carol Schmidt, Jennie Tilley and Nallia Lucus, the home side showed some steel.
After nine ends the scoreboard was level before Kingston won the next three ends to build a handy 17-9 lead.
But the Bay slowly clawed the lead back and after 21 ends the difference was three shots in Kingston’s way.
Despite Kingston’s win on the second rink, the fine effort from Grosvenor’s team was enough to bring the pennant title back to Port MacDonnell.
In Division 2 Penola overcame Mount Gambier in a tight contest.
Both teams fought hard across the ends with each rink decided by single-figure margins.
Despite the close battles, Penola emerged victorious on both occasions to wrap up the Division 2 title.
The fight for the Division 3 title was even closer with Lucindale and Robe splitting the rinks.
Robe snuck home on the second rink by six shots, but it was not enough as Lucindale won the other contest by 11 shots to steal the premiership 43-38.
The biggest show was saved for Saturday afternoon where Mount Gambier Red and Mount Gambier RSL Red locked horns for the Division 1 Open Pennants title.
The contest lived up to expectations with only four shots separating the rivals.
Mount Gambier Red started on the front foot thanks to John Reppin, Tony Renzi, Greg Carpenter and Tony Bowditch.
The quartet was in fine form overcoming Graham Dent’s rink by 12 shots.
But Mount Gambier RSL Red had some tricks up its sleeve across the next two rinks.
Gary Bowering, Craig Pearson, Ralph Stafford and Christopher Waugh led the fightback with a 22-14 win over William Bremmer’s team.
On the third and final rink Jennifer Bowering kept the good times rolling for Mount Gambier RSL Red.
Her team of Ian Macintosh, Michael Fox and Neil Tobin were too strong for Michael Ashby’s quartet.
Their seven-shot win was enough for Mount Gambier RSL to steal the overall honours 64-60 and lift the pennant trophy at the end of a hard-fought afternoon.
The home crowd had something to cheer about in Division 2 where Kingston outlasted Penola in a high-scoring decider 71-65, while Millicent Red overcame Robe 84-64 to win Division 3.
