TERANG Green gave its Western District Bowls Division finals chances a boost on Saturday, as the race for a top four finish intensified.
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The fifth-placed combination recorded a 16-shot win against fourth-placed Warrnambool Blue.
One point splits the two finals hopefuls with four home-and-away rounds to play.
Perennial finalists Warrnambool Gold and City Memorial Red sit comfortably at the head of the table.
But little separates third-placed Port Fairy Red from eighth-placed City Memorial Gold.
There is just 20 points between the pair on the ladder.
Terang Green skipper Jamie Heffernan said he expected a down-to-the-wire finish.
“The competition is very even,” he said.
“Port Fairy is doing well which is good to see because it’s a small club like us.
“It is open from third to eighth — anyone could finish third and fourth — it’s a matter of keeping on winning.”
Terang Green won three rinks on its way to a 97-81 win against Warrnambool Blue.
Barry Stonehouse defeated S. Mitchell 30-19, Dan Morrison edged home against Dennis Beriman 23-20 and Jamie Heffernan recorded a 24-18 win over Tom Pemberton.
Neville Lynch was Warrnambool Blue’s sole rink winner, snaring a four-shot win against Andrew Taylor.
“It’s put us back in contention for finals. It was a great result,” Heffernan said.
“Warrnambool Blue went in favourites so we’ve done pretty well.
“We have been going well at our home greens — we’ve only lost one game at home and that was to Warrnambool Gold.”
Heffernan said Stone-house’s rink, which included Pat O’Connor, Ron Mills and Jim Whitehead, rallied after lunch and played a telling part in the win.
“They were 10 shots down early and came home and won by 10 or 12, so they did a really good job to fight back,” he said.
“They must have regrouped and bowled well because they were struggling early and their opponents played well.
“Dan Morrison’s rink had a good win too.”
Heffernan, who made special mention of Terang’s division two side for its perseverance in a tough season, said his rink was steady.
“We were up most of the day,” he said.
“We got out to a break early and held it. Warrnambool Blue came back at us but we kept the margin.”
In other round 14 games, City Memorial Red collected a 44-shot win against clubmate City Memorial Gold. Port Fairy Red consolidated its spot in the top four with a 14-shot win over Warrnambool White, Dennington Red celebrated a 10-shot win against bottom-placed Timboon Gold and top-placed Warrnambool Gold scored a 12-shot win against finals aspirant Koroit Blue.
justine.mc@fairfaxmedia.com.au