General News
2 March, 2020
Camperdown bowlers eliminated
AN AIR of optimism surrounds Camperdown Bowling Club despite an early exit to this year’s Corangamite Bowls Division finals race.
AN AIR of optimism surrounds Camperdown Bowling Club despite an early exit to this year’s Corangamite Bowls Division finals race.
The Thornton Street-based club went down to Colac in a 90-86 elimination final thriller at Colac City Bowls Club.
It was the second successive season Camperdown had been bundled out in the first week of the finals, but president Matthew Brewer said his side was upbeat about their efforts this year.
“We discussed it on the bus on the way back that we were disappointed but it was a close game,” he said.
“Four shots (shows there) wasn’t a great deal in it and it came down to the last few ends.
“There was nothing in it, both teams bowled well, it was probably just a few loose ends that was the difference.
“A few of them were probably mine actually but it was just one of those days where we didn’t have a lot of luck.”
The two sides split the rink results, with Mark McDonald (21-19) and Kelvin Rundle (25-15) winning their contests against Tim Hassett and John Nelson.
Those two results covered Brewer’s 32-20 loss to Dan Donovan, with Luke Wright (24-20) defeat against Jeff Turner reflecting the final margin.
Brewer said several ends on his rink worked against his side as they kicked off the afternoon session.
However, he said he was proud of his players and the spirit they showed as they took the game down to the wire.
“At arvo tea we were only four or five down but I trailed the kitty four or five times after (the break) and did two fives and a three which probably didn’t help the cause,” Brewer said.
“But we were happy to make it after the year we’ve had, it was close all year.
“As I said last week we were probably just a couple (of players) short but it was a good experience for everyone.
“We’re reasonably happy (with our effort), we were happy throughout the year and we put our best effort in as a team.”
With another finals appearance now in the books, Brewer said his side was already in the planning phase of its future.
He said there was already some excitement within the group about what may lie ahead for the club as they look to strengthen their playing ranks ahead of next season.
“Looking forward we possibly have a couple of players coming to the club so I think we’re only going to be stronger,” he said.
“There’s possibly two or three, well two that we definitely know of but there could be a couple more so we should be stronger.
“We’re definitely looking forward to next year.”
Colac’s victory has seen them progress to the preliminary final at Camperdown Golf this Saturday.
They are set to play Cobden after the Cockatoos lost the other semi-final to Simpson 106-90 on City’s grass green.
The Tigers’ win booked their spot in the decider following preliminary final exits in its two previous finals tilts.
In division two, Apollo Bay (2) booked its spot in the decider after defeating top side Colac (2) 96-88 at Colac Central.
Cressy kept its season alive with a 101-86 victory over Colac Central at Colac, with Colac (2) and Cressy to face off in the preliminary final at Winchelsea.
And in division three, Birregurra’s unbeaten streak remains intact after they defeated Camperdown Golf 98-71 at Colac.
Golf will now meet Winchelsea in the preliminary final at Colac Central after the Blues defeated Skipton 93-89 in their do-or-die contest at Colac Central.
Meanwhile, premiers of the division’s three Midweek divisions will be crowned today.
Camperdown’s Midweek pennant side will contest the division two decider against Simpson.