CRESWICK has captured its third Ballarat Indoor Bias Bowls Association men’s pennant in four years.
The Lions secured the title with a six-shot win over Midlands Golf.
Rob Ohlsen, Damian Hanrahan, Matt Flapper and skip Chris Price led the way early against Midlands’ skip Paul Speechley and his team of Barry Nunn, Kevin Sharp and Robert Bond, establishing a 12-2 advantage, while on the other carpet Creswick’s Gerry Flapper locked horns with rival David Speechley in a neck and neck battle.
At the halfway mark, the overall scoreboard tightened up as the David Speechley team of Jacob Croft, Jimmy Brudenall and Bill Hawken gained momentum. The Midlands team took the advantage by six shots (13-7) which had it in front by one on the big board.
From this point, the game was hard fought with Creswick regaining the lead through the Flapper side of Rod Brehaut, Frank Fitszimons and Wayne Pattie. This quartet made its charge, and with a crucial pick-up of four on the 15th end, drew back to level on the card. Creswick’s Price team held its advantage on the Paul Speechley combination.
David Speechley converted with his first bowl to hold a three, and just missing the count with his final bowl, managed to score the three to make that carpet’s scoreboard level at 18-18.
The final end had started on the adjacent carpet, with a solid start by Midlands leader Nunn only to be out-drawn with a front resting toucher by Creswick’s Ohlsen. This proved to be the match-winning bowl for the Creswick boys, winning 22-16 to claim the premiership.
Sebastopol won promotion to the top tier of competition with victory over Ballarat Memorial Sports in the division two final; the division three decider saw Mt Xavier defeat Smeaton and BMS beat City Oval in division four.