The Western District Bowls Division top-grade battler defied its ladder position to win 67-66, claiming one rink and tying another along the way.

Lorraine Dakin was the big winner, defeating Betty Russell 26-18 and Beryl Duncan drew 21-all with Corrie Dixon. Mavis Haynes lost to Noelene Richards 19-26.

Duncan said the Pink players were “over the moon” with the victory, their second for the season.

She said she played her final end with caution after realising Pink was two shots up at the death.

“To be quite honest I didn’t expect to beat Timboon today. A lot of them are top division one pennant players,” she said.

“It was on the last rink I realised that we were two up overall and I was one down in the head and I thought I’ve got to keep getting the second shot.

“My rink had a draw but we won overall by one. We were very pleased with ourselves.”

Duncan said morale was high in the team despite the frustrating season — born out of a lack of depth at City, which has three top grade teams.

“We’re a team of 12 and we play as a team, we win as a team and we lose as a team,” she said. “We never give up. 

“We can be looking down the barrel and we’ll say ‘come on, let’s get our act together because we can do something’.

“That’s what we’ve all done. I’m proud to be in the Pinks. They’re a fantastic group of girls.”

Elsewhere, Port Fairy Gold kept its slim finals hopes alive with a stunning defeat of powerhouse Warrnambool Gold. Port Fairy won all three rinks in the 77-54 win on its home green.

Gill Phillips defeated Bev Hayes 26-22, Kay Miller upstaged Brenda Hawker 24-16 and Linda Creek beat Lorraine Shaw 27-16 after trailing at lunch.

Miller said the result came as a welcome surprise.

“It’s good to have a win. It doesn’t matter where they are,” she said. 

“Maybe after the Christmas break we regrouped a bit. Just all rinks seemed to bowl well.

“The teams were changed a bit, whether that’s what the reason was I don’t know.”

In other results, City Gold accounted for Terang two rinks to one, 70-63.

Denise Hillier had a major say in the result, defeating Carol Cardwell 29-21.

And City Green pulled away against Warrnambool Blue to win two rinks to one, 69-51. Catherine Hoy accounted for Kathleen Brockett 27-13.

City Gold is on top of the ladder with 92 points while fourth-placed Terang, 71, is 19 clear of fifth-placed Port Fairy Gold.

City Pink remains on the bottom of the ladder with 28 points, despite its win. It is nine behind seventh-ranked Timboon.

afawkes@fairfaxmedia.com.au