IT IS the grand final the Ballarat-Geelong premier bowls division deserves.
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The two top sides throughout the year meeting in the season decider with everything on the line.
In one corner is Geelong West, the minor premiers coming off a week of rest having won the qualifying final a fortnight ago.
In the other corner is Queenscliff, the club hunting an unprecedented premier division victory in the year after winning the A1 division.
The two Geelong-based sides met two weeks ago in the qualifying final, with Geelong West sneaking home by just three shots over the Cliffers.
Not that it matters to Queenscliff chairman of selectors Barry Gladman, nor does the fact his side went down to Sunday’s opponent in the only other meeting for the year.
“The first time we went down to them was on their green, we never got to play them on our greens (due to the heat rule) and they only just beat us last time,” Gladman said.
If the Cliffers are to win on Sunday, they will become the first club to win the division one and premier division titles in consecutive years.
“It’s been mentioned a couple of times that we are going for that record, but we’ve got a job to do and we haven’t really focused on it that much,” Gladman said.
“This is the big one you play for and I expect a very close game.
“Nobody will be thinking about the record on Sunday, you can guarantee that. It will all be about the game.”
For Geelong West, a premiership would make it two triumphs in three years.
After a lean year last year, three recruits in Adam Lee, Callan Inderberg and Zane Bugg have helped steer Geelong West back to the top.
Skipper Brendan Umbers said the week off had worked in his side’s favour, but also meant there was twice as long to think about the massive task at hand.
“A few of the guys are getting a bit anxious and just want the game to get under way,” he said.
“Having the week off was good for the team as a whole, some of the guys were starting to get pretty tired.”
Neither side has made any changes for the clash.
GEELONG WEST
P Hickey, S Devlin, A Lee, C Inderberg; J Fitzgerald, D Radoslav, P Fearnhead, Z Lugg; S Grellett, B Prior, S Shuttleworth, C Elliott; J Manning, J Fitzpatrick, L Kelly, B Umbers.
QUEENSCLIFF
R Lawrence, N Tait, G Warren, S Sullivan; P Aldridge, G Powell, H Dahler, B Close; R Mc Govern, A Dunn, B Wayth, B Gladman; N Sullivan, R McIlvena, D Arthur, L Wayth.
Rink draw: C Elliot v B Close, Z Lugg v L Wayth, B Umbers v S Sullivan, C Inderberg v B Gladman
patrick.nolan@fairfaxmedia.com.au