The city team was strong off the mark in the Warrnambool and District Ladies Bowling Association preliminary final at Dennington.

It held a 13-shot lead over Port Fairy at lunch, but the coastal team refused to give in.

Port Fairy dug in, and with six ends to go was three shots behind Warrnambool.

But Warrnambool remained calm and managed to shoot a five, three and a one, staving off what would have been a remarkable comeback and winning the match 77-58.

Warrnambool Gold now faces City Memorial in the grand final on February 23.

Port Fairy skipper Margaret Yeoman was gracious in defeat. She said making the preliminary final was a mighty effort.

"We scraped into the finals and last week we had a good win against Terang," Yeoman said.

"But that's just the way it goes. You're a turkey one day and a feather duster the next."

Warrnambool won across all its rinks.

Bev Hayes toppled Yeoman 27-22, Kay Miller beat Fay Boulden 27-20, while Joan Anderson defeated Jan Norton 23-16.

"I was just happy that we made it," Yeoman said.

The Warrnambool skippers had little time to savour victory, leaving the Dennington green immediately for the Australian Open ? the biggest bowling event in the southern hemisphere ? in Bendigo. The competition has pushed the WDLBA grand final back a week.

In division two City Memorial Pink defeated Dennington 74-65. City Memorial dropped only one rink, Sally Madden who fell to Maureen Drennan 14-30.

Pink will play City Memorial Blue in the grand final.

In the division three stoush, Port Fairy beat Warrnambool White 49-38.

It will play Warrnambool Red in the premiership decider.

WDLBA match committee member Margaret Sumner said grand final venues were yet to be confirmed.

"It was a great day of bowls," she said of the preliminary final.

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