The first round of all Lower South East Bowls Association pennants started on the weekend.

Penola entered two ladies’ teams and three teams in the open competition.

The Ladies Division 1 team had a bye, and the Division 2 team travelled to play at the Naracoorte RSL.

The Penola team of Hanel, Rogers, Lambert and Hinze as skipper and the team of Coote, Carlin, Wallace and Skeer as skipper battled all day against a stronger team at Naracoorte’s RSL Ormerod Street venue, going down 54 shots to 33.

This week Division 1 Ladies play their first game of the year against Robe at Robe, with Division 2 playing at home against Naracoorte.

Open pennants also began their season, with Division 2 playing Beachport at Penola.

Penola Division 2 won overall with rinks skippered by Thompson and Degerhardt winning, while the rink skippered by Robbie battled all day and finally came away with a draw.

The final score was Penola 87 defeating Beachport 66.

One Division 3 team played against Mount Gambier and had a solid win 90 shots to 52.

The Kilsby and Wicks teams had wins while the Starick team was unlucky to lose.

The second Division 3 team played at Lucindale and was beaten 98 shots to 55.

The Penola team with two learner bowlers did well but were beaten overall.

Next week the Penola Division 2 team will travel to Kingston, while one Division 3 team will play at Millicent and the other will play at home against Naracoorte.

The club held it first mixed tournament at the start of the month, with 14 teams participating.

The event was sponsored by two of the club’s long-term sponsors Peter Thompson Wines and Bendigo Bank.

It was an enjoyable day with good weather and great bowling from all bowlers.

The winners on the day with three wins was the team skippered by Rodney Willmott.

The runner up team was skippered David Babbs.