ANOTHER week, another heart-stopping win for Ballarat.
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And yet again, it was the rink of Greg Brown that delivered victory to the undefeated Ballarat on the last end of the day on Saturday.
In a top-of-the-table clash, Ballarat came from behind in the dying stages to pinch a 97-96 victory over Ballarat East to further cement its position on top of the Ballarat District Bowls Division One ladder.
With both sides battling a strong crosswind, the Two Blues appeared to have the result in the bag, leading by four shots with just three ends left. But similar to last week, when Ballarat won by just two shots over City Oval, it was Brown’s rink that provided the ascendancy when it mattered most against the Zac Stewart rink. Brown pulled back six shots in the final three rinks to deliver his side a one-shot victory, landing a crushing blow on Ballarat East.
It was the Two Blues’ second consecutive loss by just one shot, having gone down to Mt Xavier by the same margin last week.
Ballarat’s chairman of selectors Brad Fothergill said he could not say exactly what was behind his side’s undefeated start to the season, but he was happy to just go along with the ride.
Making the win even more special was the absence of experienced bowlers David Eastman and Bret Forrest.
“It’s quite pleasing, really,” Fothergill said.
“The spirits are really high among the boys at the moment and everyone is playing well.
“I can’t put my finger on it exactly ... I think the rinks are just more settled this year.”
In other matches around Ballarat, BMS was far too good for Mt Xavier, as was City Oval for Learmonth, Creswick snuck home by five shots against Smeaton, and Daylesford beat Buninyong by just two shots.