Bacchus Marsh fell just short in a thrilling top of the table clash in Bowls Victoria pennant, division 2, section 1.
Facing Port Melbourne, the match was a battle of the two standout teams in the competition.
Neither side disappointed on a wet day, with the match going down to the wire.
Port Melbourne came away with the points, winning 86 (14)-79 (4).
Troy Williams and Simon Cornock were the winning skips for Bacchus Marsh, winning by six shots and eight shots respectively.
Phil Minniti’s rink lost 25-20, while it was a tough day for Daniel Willis’ rink which lost 32-16.
Minniti said the match was a good test for the side ahead of finals and would love to face them in the grand final. “They have been the measuring stick all year,” he said.
“It was a really high standard on a really quick green. It was always going to be tough going to Port Melbourne and they had a really good crowd behind them.
“The noise was like playing a final.
“They were a little bit too good for us. We were down all day, but stuck with them and fought it out to the end.”
Bacchus Marsh remains in second, but the gap between them and Port Melbourne has extended.
Port Melbourne sits 13 points clear on top, with Bacchus Marsh 30 points clear of third-placed Deer Park 2 with three rounds remaining.
Minniti said they needed to win two of their remaining three matches to ensure they finish top two and secure a home final.
He said to finish top two in their first season in the competition was more than he expected.
“Once you make finals, you go out there to win it.”
The side had been boosted throughout the year with the arrival of a few new players who Minniti hoped would stick around for the long term.
In other matches, Melton’s game against Hoppers didn’t go ahead due to the weather. Melton remains in seventh.
In division 2, section 2, Melton won a thriller against Flemington/Kensington, 79 (14)-78 (4). Melton sits second.
