MAUREEN Drennan and Sheridan Barling left it until the second last bowl of the final end to claim the Western Region Bowls Division (WRBD) pairs champion of champions.
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Drennan and Barling, representing Dennington, were one down but holding three shots heading into the final end.
Drennan’s final shot trailed the kitty, making it near impossible for Warrnambool’s Brenda Hawker to make shot.
Drennan and Barling made five on the final end to end up 18-14 winners.
It’s the third year the pair have been crowned champion of champions.
Drennan said they got off to a reasonable start before levelling out mid-game.
“It was close for most of the game, then we got a four that gave us a bit of a boost,” she said.
“Then in the last couple of ends they made a bit of a comeback. Hannah (Mitchell) is only 17 years old, but she’s got some talent and Brenda is an experienced skipper.
“It was a great game. Sheridan played brilliantly. She set it up and most of the time all I had to do was hold position.”
The men’s game between Dennington’s Les Johnson and Frank O’Shannessy and Port Fairy’s Chris Fox and Wayne Heard was forced into a 19th end after scores were tied at 16 after 18 ends.
Johnson and O’Shannessy prevailed to claim victory 19-16.
Port Fairy was in the box seat early but a comeback on the 15th end put Dennington four shots down.
It picked up six shots on the 16th end to be three shots up. Heading into the final end scores were 16-14, but Fox and Heard picked up two shots to force the draw.
Johnson said with Fox and Heard holding shot in the final end, 86-year-old O’Shannessy sent a bowl down that knocked their bowl out.
“That put us three up and meant we were holding shot,” he said.
“It was a tense finish, but Frank bowled remarkably today. That bowl of his meant all I had to do was cover where Foxy could possibly send the kitty. It made my job that bit easier.”
The winners of yesterday’s matches now play in the West Coast Bowls Region (WCBR) final at City Memorial next week, vying for a place in the state final at Bendigo in April.
jwoolley@fairfaxmedia.com.au