By Tara Murray
Bacchus Marsh is hoping a Central Highlands Bowls top division premiership drought will come to an end this weekend.
Having not won a division 1 premiership since the 1988-89 season, Bacchus Marsh enters the grand final against Lancefield on the back of two strong finals wins.
On Saturday, Bacchus Marsh accounted for minor premiers Gisborne Red in a one-sided affair.
Bacchus Marsh president and skip Phil Minniti said they didn’t expect the result they had, even though they had easily beaten Gisborne Red in the second-last round of the season.
On this occasion, Bacchus Marsh won 95 (16)-64 (2).
“We’ve now had two really good wins against them in a row,” he said.
“We thought it would be close and go down to the wire.
“They finished on top and are out in straight sets so that is going to hurt them.”
Bacchus Marsh started well and got out to an early lead and was able to extend that throughout the day.
In the end, three of the four Bacchus Marsh rinks got up.
Daniel Willis’ rink, which was the big winner in the first week of finals, continued its good form with a 27-16 win against Tim Rogers’ rink. Rogers was the leading skip throughout the season.
Minniti’s rink won 27-10 and Simon Cornock’s rink won 20-16.
Glenn Arthur’s rink had a one shot loss, 22-21.
The win puts Bacchus Marsh through to the grand final for the first time in five years. Its second side is also in the grand final.
Minniti said it was massive for the club.
“Our last division 1 premiership was in 1988-89, so we’ll be going for our first one in 30 years,” he said.
“Our top two sides are through to the grand final and that’s really good for the club.
“I don’t know whether that’s ever happened before for the club.”
Bacchus Marsh will face Lancefield in the top grade. Lancefield had the weekend off after winning the major semi-final the week before.
The two teams split the results during the season, winning on each other’s home green.
The grand final will be held at Kyneton Golf, where both sides have had good finals wins this year.
It wasn’t all good news for Bacchus Marsh, with its division 3 side knocked out.
In a one-sided preliminary final, Romsey won 90 (15)-70 (1).
Minniti said even though the result didn’t go their way it was still a really good effort.
“It’s always hard for them with the side having changes throughout the year.
“To have them get that far is an exciting effort.”
Romsey will face Gisborne Red in the division three grand final. Bacchus Marsh will face Kyneton Red in the division 2 grand final.
Both matches will be played at Lancefield.
MORE BOWLS NEWS
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/deer-park-makes-prelim-final/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/sunburys-semi-final-slip/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/gisbornes-premiership-defence-over/
