By Ian Milgate
Healesville’s Side 1 played away at Yarra Glen, who were in fourth position, and Healesville were in third.
Yarra Glen needed to win to get the home final, so a couple of higher division players were called upon to ensure the result they wanted.
All rinks started off well and Healeville were holding their own right up until the break when they were one shot up 24/23.
After the break, Rob Ayres rink continued to forge ahead while the other two rinks were trying to keep in the game.
Unfortunately, it was not to be and in the end, Healesville went down by 12 shots 51/63.
A great effort by everyone and Healesville will do it all again next week against Yarra Glen in the first week of finals.
Gerda Otto, Bob Brown, Col Jarvis, John Fitzpatrick 13/24
Ian Milgate, Hilda Gurney, Rita Featherstone, Robyn Turville 12/26
Barry Parker, Mick Featherstone, Steve Bulled, Rob Ayres 24/13
Healesville’s 2nd. side played Croydon at home.
Croydon were second on the ladder and Healesville needed to win at least two rinks to stay in the finals.
Croydon got the jump on Healesville at the start, although Healesville were fighting hard to keep in touch with Croydon and by the break, Healesville were only six shots behind them 24/30.
After the break, Russell Smith’s rink fired up with some great bowls from all four players, While Judy Veermann’s rink also kept the pressure up, and it was good to see Judy bowling well again.
In the end, Croydon managed to scrape home by one shot 56/57.
A great effort by everyone and we are in finals starting next week.
Anne Knibbs, Ken Gallacher, Glenda Graham, Russell Smith 24/12
Jill Cookney, Jodie Ward, Mark Cookney, Judy Veermann 19/16
John Allen, Mike Adams, John McMillan, Bernard Godde 13/2
Healesville’s 1st side were playing Donvale at home in the preliminary final.
Earlier in the year Donvale beat Healesville on their green, but Healesville returned the favour on Healesville’s green, so this was going to be a ding dong battle.
Unfortunately, due the Total Fire Ban day, Donvale chose not to play and it was scheduled for Sunday.
Unfortunately, Sunday was also a Total Fire Ban so the rule that Donvale chose at the start of the year was in force, which has totally thrown the finals into chaos for division 3 sides.
Hopefully, this can be sorted out for next year.
Healesville’s side 2 played Eltham at home in the semi final.
Healesville got away to a slow start although keeping in touch with Eltham to be level pegging at the half time break.
After the break, Eltham came out firing with great bowling from Anne Knibbs, Sarah Gallacher, Ken Gallacher, and Judy Veermann to name a few.
As the match went on, Healesville became stronger winning many ends and in the end, Healesville were too strong for Eltham 23 shots up 68/45.
Well done everyone, keep up the good work.
Jill Cookney, Mark Cookney, Ken Gallacher, Judy Veermann 28/15
Judy Wallace, Bernard Godde, Sarah Gallacher, Anne Knibbs 19/14
John Allen, Mike Adams, Glenda Graham, Russell Smith 26/16
Healesville’s 2nd side were to play the looser out of Donvale and Doncaster on Sunday in the preliminary final, but due to Donvale’s choice at the start of the year, re-Don’t play on TFB days, the game between Doncaster an Donvale didn’t happen so Healesville have to wait until that game can be played.
