The tournament host yesterday made it back-to-back overall crowns with a two-point margin from Geelong after nine rounds of head-to-head competition across two days at Great Ocean Road Tenpin Bowl.

The Warrnambool Tenpin Bowling Association combination achieved the feat through the joint efforts of its women's team - which set a new standard by lifting a hat-trick of titles - and its men finishing fourth.

Warrnambool topped the women's aggregate wih 41 points, well clear of Bendigo (35) and Geelong (34).

Geelong topped the men's standing with 36 points from Bendigo (33), Colac (31.5) and Warrnambool (31).

The overall standings were Warrnambool (72), Geelong (70), Bendigo (68), Colac (61.5), Latrobe Valley (56.5), Albury/Wodonga (51), Ballarat (47.5), Shepparton (46), Sunraysia (37.5) and Wodonga (30).

Warrnambool team spokeswoman Trish Beasley said it was a tense finish after trailing Bendigo and Geelong on overall standings after Saturday's competition.

"We had no idea that we'd won it," Beasley said.

"They didn't update the men's overall after the second-last game so we didn't know.''

Beasley said the Warrnambool women's team - which included Sherene Sheen, Elaine Gordon, Elizabeth Abraham and Sandy Rogitsch - won eight of its nine matches, with its only defeat on Saturday to Geelong.

She said the men's team of David McKane, Bob Smith, Eddie Way, Doug Gordon and Max Hastings started slowly with losses to Latrobe Valley and Bendigo.

"They hit their straps yesterday afternoon," Beasley said.

"The last men's game (yesterday) was huge."

The Warrnambool side picked up five points against Wodonga, which proved crucial in the overall result.

"We scraped it last year and had a home-ground advantage this year," Beasley said. "We had a lot of local bowlers come in to support us as well, which helps.