Ballarat Memorial Sports is chasing a place in the grand final, while trying to avoid the dreaded straight sets exit from the playoffs when it meets Mt Xavier on Saturday afternoon.
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The BMS side finished top of the division one table, but was handed a heavy defeat in last weekend’s semi-final against Learmonth on the grass at Ballarat.
The team travels back there this weekend to face an X-men outfit that beat Ballarat East last weekend to keep its season alive.
BMS president and division one bowler Cameron Bryce told The Courier skipper Kevin McLean would return to the line-up this Saturday after missing against Learmonth.
While the BMS side is suited at home on the carpet, Bryce said the squad has enough experience to be able to perform in any conditions.
“The surface doesn’t phase us,” Bryce said.
“We finished on top for the year so we have just got to back ourselves and believe in ourselves and I’m sure we will be a different side to what we were last week.”
Mt Xavier finished the home and away rounds in fourth spot on the table and managed to beat BMS in one of the two encounters between the teams this season.
X-men bowler Brian McKeegan said there is “no doubt” the grass surface for Saturday’s final plays to his side’s advantage.
“You have still got to go out there and play 25 ends of bowls and beat your opponent,” he said.
“Without going overboard, we are quietly confident of being able to beat them.”
The winner of Saturday’s Ballarat District Bowls Division clash will take on Learmonth in the grand final.