SEBASTOPOL looks to have all but secured a berth in the Ballarat-Geelong district premier division bowls finals series following a blistering heatwave that caused the total abandonment of all premier division matches.
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The club faced the unenviable task of facing off against reigning premier Ocean Grove, with the in-form Victoria breathing down its neck for the last finals spot, but was given a boost when all round 16 matches were cancelled on Friday.
The abandonment was initially caused by the Geelong region calling off its entire pennant fixture due to the forecast heat.
Sebastopol selector Rob Baker said that the club would have been happy with a draw earlier in the week, but admitted that the result had come by way of regrettable circumstances.
“It’s not out of the question for Victoria to get into the finals if they beat us this week and we lose to Webbcona in the final round,” Baker said.
“We would like to get to the finals on our own merits, which we can still do by beating Victoria this weekend.
“It is a trade-off though – the chance of us getting into second spot has diminished severely – but that is also not out of the question.”
Meanwhile all five matches in division one of the Ballarat District Bowling Division were abandoned at some stage on Saturday afternoon.
In the process the division one top four has also been as good as decided, with BMS looking likely to hold onto fourth spot ahead of finals hopefuls Learmonth and Buninyong.
Division two was the only division to have every side complete their matches, while every division below had one or more match cancelled due to the heat.
michael.pollock@fairfaxmedia.com.au
LADDERS
PREMIER: GEELONG WEST 230 points + 270 shots, QUEENSCLIFF 207 + 227, OCEAN GROVE 195 + 249, SEBASTOPOL 194 + 179, Victoria 168 + 129, Bareena 144 + 135, Webbcona 106 - 179, Avenue 86 - 161, Highton 81 - 224, Ballarat East 29 - 625.
DIVISION ONE: CITY OVAL 217 points + 278 shots, BALLARAT 210 + 217, CENTRAL WENDOUREE 177 + 174, BMS 166 + 90, Learmonth 152 + 0, Buninyong 150 + 70, Mt Xavier 107 - 95, Daylesford 93 - 283, Smeaton 89 - 226, Webbcona 77 - 215.