DENNINGTON Red is hoping it has changed its luck in the close games after prevailing for a nail-biting 104-99 win over Terang Green on Saturday.
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Darren King, who plays third in David Clements’ rink, said a close win in the Western District Bowls Saturday pennant competition was a welcome change.
“It was a good, gutsy win in the end,” he said.
“The close ones are the ones we usually lose.”
The teams split the rinks, with a big win from Maureen Drennan setting up the overall victory. She won her rink 33-13 after getting off to a “flying” start.
Clements – who is one of two new skippers in the team, along with Glen McNaughton – won his rink 26-22.
Jamie Heffernan (30-25) and Barry Stonehouse (34-20) won their rinks for Terang Green.
“It was tight right to the last rink,” King said.
“Terang is very hard to beat at Terang. Every game we play, whether it’s at Terang or at Dennington, it’s always a close game.
Meanwhile, City Memorial Red posted a valuable 91-85 win over last summer’s preliminary finalist Koroit Blue at Koroit.
City Red lead Kevin McMahon said the victory gave his side a good boost early in the season – it sits second behind clubmates City Gold after the opening two rounds.
“Koroit are one of the three strongest sides,” he said. “We played them in the preliminary final last year and we beat them to make the final.
“We played them at Koroit this week; it was tight all day and we just got over the line by six shots.
“It’s very important because we’ve got a lop-sided type of draw these days with 11 teams, and beating a team away, who are one of the top sides, is really very handy.”
McMahon, who played in Wayne Hall’s hard-fought 21-18 rink win over Neil Crisp, said it was a tough battle all day with the sides splitting the rinks two apiece.
Kevin O’Keeffe was City Red’s other winner, defeating Les Johnson 28-19, while Koroit Blue’s John Murnane defeated Ken Bell 23-21 and Scott Boschen defeated David Wells 25-21.
McMahon was mindful of the fact both sides were missing players, with Peter Carty and Tom Pemberton missing from his team, while Koroit was without Barry Padgham, Brian Lenehan and Stephen Mitchell.
In other matches, City Memorial Gold had a four-rink cleansweep against Lawn Tennis Red, winning 124-76.
Mortlake Blue bounced back from a first-up loss with a 108-73 win over Warrnambool Blue, winning all four rinks.
Warrnambool Gold picked up where it left off last season with a 122-76 win over Port Fairy Red.
Timboon Gold had the bye.