Bev Hayes knows it's true, she just wishes she realised it earlier.

"When I was in my 40s I was still playing squash and my mother said if you don't give it up, you'll drop dead," she recalled.

"She said I should play lawn bowls but I didn't think I was old enough."

The Warrnambool Gold player waited a few years before taking up the sport.

In her first year of bowls, Hayes claimed Dennington's club championship on her 50th birthday.

"I wish I listened to my mother and started earlier now though," she said.

Someone who has started early is Hayes' grandson Sam Bottomley.

The 12-year-old, who is in his first year of lawn bowls, plays division four pennant.

The pair practised together yesterday ahead of today, when Warrnambool Gold clashes with Port Fairy in the Warrnambool and District Ladies Bowling Association preliminary final.

Hayes said Warrnambool Gold was positive despite its loss to City Memorial Gold in the second semi-final last week.

"They were just the better team on the day," Hayes said.

"We'll be giving it 100 per cent today and we'll be working as a group of 12."

The 69-year-old highlighted Warrnambool's team mentality.

"You concentrate on your own rink but if you see a player in another rink put in a superb bowl, you tell them well done."

Warrnambool Gold disposed of Port Fairy 81-55 in round three while in round 10, Port recorded a two-shot upset.

"Every game is different," Hayes said. "You can have a terrific win, then you might lose to the same team the next time.

"It's a great game because there's so many ups and downs, like any sport.

"I'm confident we can win.

"People say that's cocky but you need a certain amount of confidence because if you go there thinking you can't, then you won't."

Squash isn't the only sport which Hayes played.

"I played squash for about 12 years," she said.

"But I had a go at just about everything. I even tried ladies' football which was a disaster because I'm only five-foot tall," Hayes laughed.

While today's division one preliminary final is at Dennington, Warrnambool will host the division two final preliminary final between Dennington and City Memorial Pink.

In division three, Port Fairy and Warrnambool White will duel at Dennington.