Ballarat-Geelong premier league ranks after defeating

a battle-weary Mt Xavier in yesterday’s Ballarat Regional

Bowls Association division one grand final.

The minor premiers showed why they were the best team in the competition with a precise display at

Sebastopol, claiming two rink victories and a draw in

another to finish as 98-68 winners.

Led by Simon Cornock’s rink, who speared away from

near-level scores to finish as 30-12 winners, Avenue

kicked away after afternoon tea to set up the success.

The X-men were certainly carrying some tired bodies

late yesterday after winning a thrilling preliminary final

against Victoria by two shots on Saturday.

Avenue’s victory has propelled them to the premier

division ranks for next season — a challenge Cornock is looking forward too.

The skip said the club would be desperate to make

the most of its opportunity at the region’s highest level.

‘‘We are going to really try and stick up there,’’ Cornock

said.

‘‘We’ve have got a bit of an advantage with our home

green (plastic), most people don’t seem to like to come

down (to Bacchus Marsh).

‘‘We haven’t lost there for a long time, and if we can

keep that going in premier league — win a lot of our

games at home and maybe pick up a couple away —

there is no reason we can’t stay up there.’’

Cornock had no hesitation in rating yesterday’s performance as the team’s best of the season.

‘‘That was easily our best all year,’’ Cornock said.

‘‘We have won two-and-a-half rinks and lost one by

two and Mt Xavier are a good team. They’re good

enough to be in the premier league.’’

Don Louttit continued his standout season by leading

his rink to a commanding 28-14 victory for the

Bacchus Marsh side.

Mick Storey’s side claimed the only winning rink for the

X-men, a 20-18 result.

Storey said the big weekend of play had caught up

with him, but was making no excuses for the the defeat.

‘‘They were just too good,’’ he said.