Finals just around the corner

Yarra Glen Bowls Club teams are trying hard to win to secure the finals spot. (File)

By Rodney Bates

All three Weekend Pennant teams are in a position to play finals with only one more week of home and away games to go.

A Friday Night game at Bundoora saw third vs fourth place in a battle.

Bundoora skipped away early but a good fightback saw score level half way through the evening.

Alas, Bundoora pulled away in the last 20 ends for an overall loss to Yarra Glen 64-92 (two points).

C. Carswell 9/30; S. Manifold 16/24; Beau Simmons 17/21; Ben Simmons 22/17.

The Yarra Glen team need to win the last home and away game against Mooroolbark next week to ensure a finals place.

Division 4 Side 2 hosted Bayswater, who were close on the ladder behind Yarra Glen in second.

Bayswater adapted well to the Yarra Glen’s slower synthetic green, and after Yarra Glen gained a solid lead, it was slowly chipped back.

A couple of crucial ends went our way in the last quarter of the game to come away with the win 80/71 (14 points).

S. Smith 13/18; M. Ramage 14/27; R. Thurkle 34/12; A. Thurkle 19/14.

The win guarantees the side a top 2 finish, but a win next week would lock in a home final.

Side 3 were also home to Mitcham, with the chance to consolidate a top 4 position with a win.

Mitcham have had the best of recent battles, but Yarra Glen performed well across all rinks, coming away with a three rink win 92-59 (16 Points).

L. Baker 21/13; G. Baker 32/8; D. McMenaman 18/16; T. Dickson 21/22.

On Tuesday, Yarra Glen’s midweek Division 2 team played Ringwood at home.

The section is so close between third and seventh that either team could play finals or be relegated, so a lot to play for.

Both sides had strong representation from their senior weekend pennant players, so a good battle was on the cards.

Yarra Glen got away to a solid start across three of four rinks, and held a narrow lead at the break.

All three rinks then lifted again to eventually coming away with a three rink 16 point win 79-38.

P. Leonard 26/13; P. Tirant 28/14; M. Creighton 26/11.

Yarra Glen’s second side has had a tough year, but it was buoyed somewhat with a win away against Eastwood Golf 60/52 (12 Points).

L. Baker 24/13; T. Dickson 20/21; D. McMenaman 16/18.