Altona Bowls Out Of Finals

The Sunday Age

Sunday February 24, 2008

Geoff Mathers

PREMIER Altona crashed out of the final four yesterday against Premier division ladder leader Melbourne by four shots.

Barry McGreggor was Melbourne's star skip and with his third James Dunne, they destroyed the Brendan McCallum rink 34-23.

Altona had a glimmer of hope on the 100th end when three down on the main board. Paul Dorgan held two shots at the head over Russell Green, each with a bowl still to play. Green drew the shot, then Dorgan drove but missed, and the season was over for Altona.

Werribee RSL could not make any impression on Moonee Ponds and blew its chances, losing all rinks, moving Ponds up to second and the double chance.

The Ponds look like the only real threat to Melbourne, and they play the first semi-final next Saturday at Glenroy, with the winner going to the grand final.

The Ponds dropped state skip Brett Spurr to third for Doug Wilson and the rejig worked as the Wilson rink defeated Ben Major and Adam Galloway wiped out Darren Christie 37-23.

"Snowy" Barker had Mark Jacobsen's (Moonee Ponds) measure for 18 ends before Jacobsen won the last seven ends and the rink.

The surprise of yesterday's last round was second-placed Essendon's loss to Yarraville-Footscray. The result catapulted the combine into fourth place, and meant the Bombers have lost the double chance. The two clubs must play again next Saturday and the loser drops out.

Glen Eira McKinnon and Lalor will be relegated to division one, and then the fight starts next Saturday for the two division one teams to replace them.

Burwood District's division one section four top side was livid when three of its top players had decided to play in the Australian Open triples final with Barry Jackett yesterday, and not for the club that desperately needed a win to ensure its spot in the play-off for the two teams to be promoted to Premier division.

Bowls Australia plans to have all pennant matches cancelled on this same weekend next season as a solution to the problem.

The senior Victorian team to play NSW in March at Moama: Todd Simmons, Paul Dorgan, Adam Galloway, Robert Doody, Matthew Flapper, Peter Loe, Nick McIntyre, Bennton Coad, Mark Jacobsen, Brett Spurr, Ian Ewing, Barrie Lester, Lee Schraner, Graeme Bridge, Brett Dodd, Brendan McCallum.

The Victorian under-25 team: Josh McCormick, Brett Foley, Matthew Creighton, Bradley Holland, Travis Kelly, Ryan Tainton, Ben Major, Mark Ryan.

© 2008 The Sunday Age

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