THE race for a place in the Western District Bowls Division (WDBD) Saturday pennant finals has come down to the last round of the season.
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Heading into today’s final round as many as five teams are still in contention for positions three and four on the ladder.
The top two have long been decided with Warrnambool Gold safe on top and City Memorial Red well clear in second.
The match of the round will take place at Port Fairy where the home side will host Warrnambool Blue.
Port Fairy Red is in third place on 127 with Warrnambool Blue on their tail on 125.
Terang Green sit in fifth place also on 125 but faces the uphill task of trying to upset Warrnambool Gold.
Koroit Blue is in seventh place on the ladder (116) and its miracle is unlikely given it has to play City Memorial Red.
The team that looks set to make the biggest move is Dennington Red which is in sixth place with 122 points.
It will start hot favourite to defeat City Memorial Gold and if that win eventuates it could replace the loser of the Port Fairy Red and Warrnambool Blue game.
The push for a finals place carries extra significance for Port Fairy Red as the club has not had a team in the division one finals for over a decade.
Jim Lowe was a member of that last finals team and will again play a key role tomorrow.
Lowe said if Port Fairy Red could win a place in the finals it would create history at the club.
“Our two division three and two division four teams are both going to make the finals so if we make it then it will be five,” Lowe said yesterday.
“It would be the first time in the history of the club we have had five teams make finals in the Saturday pennant.
“We are quietly confident of winning. There has been some extra practice this week and I think playing on our home green will be a bit of an advantage.
“I think we have a more balanced team than earlier in the season and we have all our players available so we will give it a good go.”
Only the result of the Warrnambool White and Timboon Gold game has no possible bearing on the top four although it is far from a dead rubber.
The loser of this game will collect the unwanted prize of the wooden spoon and relegation with Warrnambool White going into the game on 80 points and Timboon Gold on 75.