VIOLET TOWN BOWLS CLUB By LEANNE RUSSELL-JONES MIDWEEK Pennant Division five: Violet Town suffered a tough loss at East Shepparton a fortnight ago, going down 75-36, 16-zero. However, at home last week against Seymour, the team secured a hard-fought victory, winning on two rinks. The overall score was a narrow 59-56, earning Violet Town a 14-two result. This sees the team drop to fifth on the ladder, trailing Euroa by just three points. The upcoming match against Euroa on Tuesday, February 11, looms as a crucial encounter. With finals aspirations hanging in the balance. Weekend Pennant Division six: The team faced a difficult match against Euroa a fortnight ago, losing 72-44, 16-zero. However, they bounced back in emphatic fashion at home on Saturday with a dominant 88-38 victory over Alexandra, claiming all 16 points. Violet Town now sits in second place on the ladder, just one point behind Nagambie, while Euroa remains 12 points behind in third. A win against Shepparton Park next Saturday will be crucial in maintaining position, but the team remains secure within the top four. The 100-Up Final was played at 9am on Sunday, February 9, with Dennis Taylor facing Neil Higgins. Neil emerged victorious with a 100-85 win in what was a closely contested match. Dennis, playing off a handicap of minus 15, put in a strong performance, but Neil who is a new Pennant bowler with a commitment to practice, secured the title. Congratulations to both players on their efforts throughout the competition. The Drawn Pairs competition sheet is now available, and members are encouraged to register their interest. The opening night of jack attack competition was played in warm conditions, but that did not dampen the enthusiasm of participants. The event continues to receive generous support from raffle prize donors, ensuring plenty of prizes each week. Community members are encouraged to join in and experience the fun of the night—who knows, they might even find themselves pulled into a team. AVENEL BOWLS CLUB By KATE DONOVAN MIDWEEK PENNANT – Division three. Avenel Bowls Club maintained its position at the top of the Division three ladder with a resounding win against Eildon at home. The match ended with Avenel 14 – 60 defeating Eildon two – 52. The standout performance came from Jenny Furletti, Graham Lewis, Fay Hateley, and Noel Slater (s), who dominated the match without relinquishing the lead. A final surge of four straight end wins secured a comfortable 26 – 15 victory. James Wall, Kate Donovan, Geoff Hateley, and Spud Furletti (s) delivered a thrilling comeback after trailing for most of the game. With four shots required to draw and five to win, the team’s five closest bowls on the last end clinched a dramatic 22 – 21 victory. Pam Pedder, Grace Kenworthy, Glen Bell, and Dennis McGregor (s) faced a tough challenge as they were 10 shots down but fought back strongly, winning the final four ends. Despite their efforts, they fell short, with Eildon winning 16 – 12. MIDWEEK PENNANT – Division six. At home, Avenel defeated Rushworth 14 – 60 to zero – 27, securing a spot in the finals. Mark Morse, Marion Gittus, Marg Harrison, and Bill O’Connor (s) showcased a brilliant performance, winning 36 – 15 after a dominant mid-game stretch, scoring 26 shots. Rusty Schwab, Ron Harrison, Nyoli Bell, and Charlie Kemp (s) proved relentless, winning 14 of 21 ends, including seven consecutive ends, to finish with a 24 – 12 victory. WEEKEND PENNANT – Division three Avenel faced Mooroopna Golf at home for their final home and away match, securing a place in the finals with a comprehensive 16 – 90 victory over Mooroopna Golf two – 56. Howard Geldard, Rusty Schwab, Brett McDonald, and Dennis McGregor (s) were dominant, winning 31 – 10, including a staggering 10 shots over the last three ends. Kate Donovan, Grace Kenworthy, James Wall, and Spud Furletti (s) led throughout, clinching a 20 – nine win. Jenny Furletti, Graham Lewis, Fay Hateley, and Geoff Hateley (s) followed suit with a 25 – 15 win, staying in front after a strong fourth end. However, Pam Pedder, Donna Rowley, Josh McDonald, and Jake Wall (s) struggled to find their rhythm, losing 14 – 22 to an accurate Mooroopna Golf rink. WEEKEND PENNANT – Division seven. Despite being out of the finals race, Avenel gave second-placed Rushworth a strong challenge on their home turf, narrowly losing 12 – 35 to Avenel two – 34. Ruth King, Kyle Pedder, Marion Gittus, and Charlie Kemp (s) performed admirably, leading throughout and holding off a late challenge to win 22 – 15, thanks to a four on the last end. A special mention goes to Ruth King, who made an impressive return for the season. In a tightly contested match, Walter Pedder, Mark Morse, Ron Harrison, and Ross Sinclair (s) led for the first 13 ends but succumbed to Rushworth’s momentum, losing 20 – 12.
