Melton secured its first vital win away in the Bowls Victoria Pennant division 1, section 1 season on Saturday.
Up against struggling bottom-side Preston-Reservoir, Melton started the match clear favourites, but knew it needed to perform.
It did just that, winning all four rinks easily to record an overall 45-shot win, 95 (18)-50 (0).
Melton secretary John Adams said a win was never in doubt.
“We ran all over them,” he said. “Teams that are below us on the ladder are the sides we need to beat. We never looked like losing. We started well and kept getting further and further ahead.
“To have a 45-shot win away from home is massive.”
The win was Melton’s third for the season, its two losses by way of a combined 11 shots.
Melton’s next two assignments are Fitzroy Victoria and Glenroy, teams fighting alongside Melton for a finals spot.
With both matches at home, Adams said they are vital to the overall season outcome.
“If you win all your home games and win two or three away games, you’re likely to play finals,” he said.
“Win both these games and you set up the season.”
Competition for spots in Melton’s top team is fierce, with the division 2 side on top of the ladder.
In other competitions, Bacchus Marsh rebounded after its worst performance of the season with one of its best, a thumping win over Woodend in Central Highlands Bowls Division’s division 1.
There was little trouble for any of the rinks, as a six-shot margin was the closest result in the 116 (18)-60 (0) win. Stand-in skipper Adam Dodd had a 25-shot win.
Bacchus Marsh jumps from sixth on the ladder to third, and is on 57 points, three points clear of Kyneton.
In division 2, Bacchus Marsh had an 89 (14)-86 (4) win against Kyneton, while Mt Cottrell were easy winners against Diggers Rest, 109 (18)-83 (0). Bacchus Marsh sits 12 points clear on top of the ladder.
Meanwhile, The Avenue remains win-less after six rounds in Ballarat District Bowls division 1.
Sitting at the bottom of the ladder, the Avenue travelled to Learmonth hoping to kickstart its season.
Despite a better match than previous weeks, the Avenue was still on the wrong end of the scoreboard. Bill Hawken’s rink had a massive 26-15 win, and new skip Ben Gould’s rink won by three shots, but it wasn’t enough – the Avenue lost 96 (4)-84 (4). It was a better day for the rest of the Avenue’s teams, all recorded wins.
