The Port MacDonnell Bowls Club Division 1 team tasted success in a quiet weekend of Lower South East Pennant bowls action.
There was no Mid Week or Friday Pennants, so the Open competition played on Saturday afternoons took centre stage.
In Division 1 Port MacDonnell travelled to Millicent and prevailed in a thrillingly close battle.
The Bays were on the back foot after Paul Weir, Robert Hutchesson, Wayne Dowdell and skipper Tim Wrightson lost to Wayne Ross’s team by the heavy 20-38 margin.
But Port MacDonnell launched a stunning fightback.
Bill Richards’ rink of Barrie Schmidt, Keith Dowdell and Heather Richards stepped up to overcome Bryan Roper’s 32-17.
To complete the comeback, Greg Fisher, Carol Schmidt, Judith Grosvenor and Chris Richards outclassed John Scudds’ crew by 12 shots.
The result sealed a great 78 shots, 10 points to 69 shots and 2 points win at Millicent which has lifted the Bay off the bottom of the ladder for the first time for year.
In Division3 Port MacDonnell fell short in another tight battle against Naracoorte.
Jimmy Williams, John Naismith, Donald Forbes and Kel Butler put Port MacDonnell on a winning note with a five-shot triumph against Roger Farley’s team.
All roads started to point towards the Bay as Michael Glynn, Lance Fisher, Jennie Tilley and Terry Seiler also defeated Don Mitton 26-17.
However, the good work was undone by Naracoorte’s Bev King, who led her rink to a 25-13 win over Chris Negline, Victor Perryman, Kevin Osman and Danny Gaut which was enough to overturn the overall scoreboard by three shots.
Port MacDonnell’s Division 4 battle against Mount Gambier RSL finished in a heavy 91-58 shot defeat, but the contest on the green was closer than it seems.
Darryl Sims, Bruce Bain, Cheryl Doddridge and Robyn Burley gave it everything hunting for glory, but fell one shot short against the Lindsay Moyal opposition.
Ben Tilley, Graham Hutchesson, Kevin Norman and Rod Sutton also fell just short in a close contest after Bob Solley’s won by four shots.
Port MacDonnell’s hopes of victory were dashed by the Lyn Chirgwin led rink were it smashed Terry Stone, Lyn Vanderley, Marilyn Sutton and Bill McGregor 42-13.
Port MacDonnell’s own Heather Richards had a huge weekend taking out the singles Champion of Champions title at Penola on Sunday.
Richards beat Cheryl Ferguson from Lucindale, Christie Errock from Mount Gambier and finally Beachport’s Jill Preston Beachport in the final to take out the prestigious Champion of Champion title for 2022.
