Warrnambool trailed Port Fairy Blue by as many as 10 shots in the first half of play, but found form to run out as comprehensive 87-56 victors in treacherous conditions.

In the strongest performance of the afternoon, Gold’s Helen Lock put on a score of 41 to defeat Sue Gavin, who managed 13 in the first rink.

Warrnambool selector and pennant player, Pat Boyd, said Lock’s rink ultimately set up the victory.

“It was a very good win because Port Fairy are a good team, and they’re going very well,” she told The Standard.

“The wind was very trying. You didn’t know where you were going to put the bowl, you’d put it down and it would go away from where you want to put it. The conditions were very hard to play in and probably everybody in the region is in the same boat.”

Boyd said she expected a strong competition and was particularly wary of City Memorial’s prowess.

“They’re a very good side. We won it the year before last, but they won it last year,” she said.

“They’ve got a lot of ladies. We’ve got a few older ladies because four or five (Warrnambool Gold) finished last year because they were well into their 80s.”

The Timor Street powerhouse also dominated rink two, with Bev Hayes emerging as a 28-19 victor over Kay Miller.

Port Fairy Blue managed to snare rink three, with Jill Phillips leading a 24-18 triumph over Brenda Hawker.

Port Fairy Blue vice president Kay Miller said while the result wasn’t ideal, it would provide the club with something to build on for the rest of the season.

“We won one rink, and went down by 30-odd on another, which hurt,” she said.

“It’s good to get the first game of the season out of the way and we can push on from there.

“Of course we have to hope for finals, but we will see how it all goes. We definitely aren’t giving up hope altogether.”

In other games, City Memorial Green downed Timboon Maroon by 76 to 54.

Koroit Orange (81) knocked off Terang Gold (58) to cement an impressive victory.

City Memorial Gold put on a stunning travelling effort to clinch a 39-shot win.