Tim Jackway and Brian Lenehan
WARRNAMBOOL Gold has scraped into the Western District Bowls Division (WDBD) top grade grand final after a nailbiting showdown with fierce rival City Memorial Red on Saturday.
Rinks were shared as the second semi-final went down to the wire, before Warrnambool Gold prevailed 95-94.
Warrnambool Gold third Glen McNaughton said the game was a classic final with no room for error.
“It was very tight pretty much all day,” he said.
“Both sides snuck out to a half a dozen-shot lead or 10-shot lead at different stages and then it would tighten up.
“We were three-up on the last end and they were holding two shots and Tim Jackway had the last bowl and he fell short.
“It would have forced all rinks out for another end.
“We fell in by the skin of our teeth in the end.”
Brian Lenehan (26-20) and Peter Pangrazio (23-20) were Warrnambool Gold’s winners.
Kevin McMahon (30-27) and Ray Hoy (24-19) tried their best to steer City Memorial Red home.
“The outstanding player in our rink was skipper Peter Pangrazio,” McNaughton said. “He played extremely well all day. He converted his shots all day.”
McNaughton said if the two sides were to meet in the grand final, it would be another close, hard-fought contest.
“Up until five years ago, City and Warrnambool had close games all the time,” he said.
“The last few years different results have gone one way or another.”
City Memorial Red will play clubmate City Memorial Gold in the preliminary final.
City Memorial Gold was too strong for Timboon Gold in the first semi-final, winning 109-85.
In division two, City Memorial Green and Warrnambool Red will meet in the preliminary final.
Koroit Blue awaits the winner in the grand final.
Timboon Maroon and City Memorial White will go head-to-head in the division three preliminary final, with the winner to face Koroit White in the decider.
City Memorial Orange and Timboon Red are the division four preliminary finalists.
The winner of that clash will play Koroit Green in the grand final.
justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au