MELTON’S dream run in its inaugural season of Bowls Victoria metropolitan pennant will end without a divisional premiership after its remaining teams were eliminated at the weekend.
Yarra Glen tipped out Melton’s top team 84-81 in the division 3 quarter-finals to bring to an end a dominant season.
Rarely challenged in dominating division 3 section 1, Melton finally met its match after enjoying an 18-match unbeaten run.
Persisting through the rain proved difficult for Melton’s bowlers in conditions skip Allan Stevenson described as “appalling” at Princes Park.
“It was very close all day; we were up by about 10 shots, but they whittled it back,” Stevenson said.
“The bowls were slipping out of our hands; you couldn’t play accurate bowls. [You’d try] to grip and hurl the thing because it would stop in the grass.”
Stevenson said defeat was an unfamiliar feeling for the Melton team – the side had not lost since last season when it competed in the Central Highlands Bowls Association.
“We always knew we’d be very competitive. The club had a fantastic year overall with all divisions being promoted.”
Melton’s division 4 team defeated Warburton 78-67 on Saturday but was knocked out 83-69 by Donvale on Sunday.
Melton’s division 8 team beat Whittlesea on Saturday and lost to Box Hill RSL on Sunday.
Central Highlands Bowls Association’s first round of finals delivered Woodend to the decider after a 104-88 win against Kyneton Red, while Lancefield eliminated Kyneton Golf 113-84.
Bacchus Marsh knocked out Woodend Green in division 2 to set up a preliminary final against Mt Cottrell.
