It was finals heartache from Werribee’s top side, but premiership joy for its second side in the Bowls Victoria weekend pennant competition.
The Bees division 2, section 1 side, was finally in finals action on the weekend after they were postponed last week due to a total fire ban in Bacchus Marsh.
The Bees headed to Bacchus Marsh on Saturday, keen to repeat what they did in the corresponding match 12 months earlier.
It wasn’t to be as Bacchus Marsh beat them, 87 (16)-67 (2).
For the Bees, Gavin Joyce’s rink won 22-17.
It meant the Bees then had to face Keilor on Sunday in the preliminary final.
Keilor got off to a strong start and stayed in front all day, winning 82 (14)-64 (2).
Robert Smith and Robert Panton were the winning skips for the Bees.
Bees chairman of selectors and skip Mick O’Neil said it was a disappointing weekend for the side.
“Bacchus Marsh was too good for us, Keilor was as well,” he said. “We didn’t play as well as we could have.
“Against Keilor they got off to a good start and we chased them all day. We got back within three or four before they won a few ends in a row to kick away.
“We’re fairly disappointed in the result after a fairly successful year.
O’Neil had said leading into the match that there hadn’t been much between the three sides all season.
He said they could do what Bacchus Marsh did and bounce back into the grand final the following season.
“We weren’t good enough to win the finals, which means we’re not good enough to go up to division 2. It’s back to the drawing board.”
While the top side fell short, Werribee’s second side claimed the division 3, section 2 premiership.
The Bees beat Deer Park 3 in the grand final on Saturday, 85 (14)-69 (4).
O’Neil said it was a really good effort by them.
“Credit to them, they had been beaten by Deer Park a couple of times this year,” he said.
“We played on a neutral green in Altona and were able to get the win. They had a couple of players out and a couple came up from our third side.”
The division 3 side will now play in the sectional finals as an overall division 3 winner is crowned.
The side has already secured promotion for next season, meaning the Bees will have both their top sides in division 2.
Tara Murray
