By Ewen McRae
Hoppers is on the board for the 2018-19 pennant bowls season, claiming its first win at the weekend.
Taking on Melton in division 2, Hoppers looked in control right from the start, going on to drop just one rink, by a single shot, in a welcome return to form.
The final margin of 98 (16)-64 (2) illustrated the gap between the two sides, with two rinks helping to give Hoppers a welcome points boost.
While Bill Russell’s rink had to fight all day to come away with a 23-18 win, Colin Ravenscroft had a commanding 28-12 win with his rink and Keith Vanderpoel was equally impressive in his 27-13 victory.
Robert Waugh fell to a tight 21-20 loss in his rink, but overall Hoppers was able to stretch its lead at every break, leading by 15 shots after 20 ends and 25 shots after 40 ends.
The win lifts Hoppers to sixth on the table ahead of this week’s clash with Maribyrnong Park.
In division 1, Werribee had a disappointing trip to Lalor, falling to its second loss of the season. In damp conditions, Werribee trailed for much of the day, but was able to get wins in half the rinks.
It remained a slim chance of closing the margin late before eventually going down (86 (14)-68 (4).
Werribee trailed by nine shots with three ends to play, before a bad mistake from the visitors saw them drop six shots and with it the match.
Rob Smith continued on his winning way with a one-shot win, while Rob Patton’s rink had a massive comeback.
After trailing by 11 shots at the break, it came out to blitz its Lalor opposition rink 20-1 in the second half of the day to win by 10 shots.
The loss sees Werribee slip to fifth place ahead of this week’s match with top-of-the-table Moonee Valley.
MORE BOWLS NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/sunbury-bounces-back/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/melton-builds-the-buzz/
