It sits in a logjam on the Western District Bowls Division Saturday pennant ladder entering today’s round eight fixture.

Fourth-placed City Memorial Gold and fifth-placed Dennington Red both have 64 points.

Port Fairy Red and Warrnambool White sit on the next two rungs with 63 points apiece.

Bowlers are embracing the evenness of the competition which has belonged, for the most part, to City Memorial Red and Warrnambool Gold for more than two decades.

Port Fairy Red veteran Jim Lowe said his side believed it was capable of playing finals.

“We are still aiming for top four,” he said. 

“It’s more a matter of settling the team down, practicing and improving. 

“That’s what it’s about.

“The more time you put in, the more you get out.

“We have pennant practice every Wednesday night and have coaches down there.”

Lowe said Port Fairy Red had played most of the division’s top sides but admitted “there seems to be no easy games; it’s all evened up a bit”.

He is wary of its clash against 10th-placed Timboon Gold today.

“We always have a good battle with them,” he said. 

“They play the game in really good spirits.

“They have lost a couple of players this year but have brought a couple of younger ones to fill their places.

“It always takes time to step up to the grade.”

Lowe said Port Fairy Red had included a number of new faces in its top-grade side this season, including Portland recruit Brian Nolte who has stepped seamlessly into third in Chris Fox’s rink.

In other round eight fixtures, a momentum-building City Memorial Red hosts Warrnambool White, second-placed Warrnambool Gold will go in hot favourite against bottom-placed Lawn Tennis Red, Dennington Red will push for a top four spot when it plays City Memorial Gold, Koroit Blue is a chance to maintain top spot for another week when it meets Terang Green and Mortlake Blue and Warrnambool Blue will battle for a rare win.