First spot booked

CALIVIL is through to its second Bendigo playing area division five grand final in three seasons.

Saturday’s 16-shot win over Loddon rivals Inglewood went some way to erasing the demons of 2021-22 when Calivil failed to make the finals.

Graham Maxted’s rink had the most commanding win for the day, the skipper saying there was renewed commitment at the club this season.

Inglewood was going along nicely and led by nine shots at the break.

Then the rain came, slowing down the green dramatically, which Inglewood couldn’t master as well as its opponents who then ran away with a convincing win.

Inglewood luckily has the double chance which sees them come against a strong Kangaroo Flat side this Saturday.

In midweek division five, Inglewood turned in a dominating performance in the second semifinal over South Bendigo to book a grand final berth.

The winning margin was 29 shots. Both rinks had wins with the rink of Joan Roberts, Pam Kelly, Arthur Harrison and

Vicky Tierney recording a big 35 to 7 shot win.

The other rink of Edna Patterson, Phyliss McEwan, Daniel Garrett and David Whitehead had to fight hard all game and ended up having a one-shot win.

A wonderful performance by this team all season.

The grand final will be played on Monday.

Bridgewater

Both midweek and weekend teams have survived in their Divisions.

The best Skips for the season both with equal match wins and only points separating them, were Kathleen McNaught ahead of Marg Wright and Glenn Mangan from Brian Oughtred.

Thanks to Inglewood IGA for its incentive vouchers, adding interest throughout the pennant season. Presentation night is on April 15.

The last match of the Napier Park evening series is on March 15.

All teams eventually meet each other, so still some fun encounters ahead.

Equal winners last round were Gatkins and Loddon Larrikins. Browns Plains were runners up.

Club championships are progressing slowly with the women.

Barb Catto is the only player through to the last eight at present.

Very close men’s matches last Saturday in the championship. Nick Saunders survived a very close semi-final against John Fagan, while Allan Harrison just defeated Robert Smith.

Allan now plays Glenn Mangan, with the winner meeting current champion Nick Saunders in the final.

Pennant Finals

Bendigo Division 5 - Calivil 91-16 d Inglewood 75-2. K Richards, R Boyd, J Pickles, L Gronow (s) d P Lyndon, K Stewart, T Schill, D Rowe (s) 27-18. I Mansbridge, M Dennis, N Dennis, A Dennis (s) lost to P Kelly, D Smyth, C McEwan, V Tierney (s) 10-29. R Lourie, H Miles, G Ray, G Maxted (s) d R Stranger, T Birthisel, A Noonan, A Harrison (s) 29-8. B Meighan, G Lourie, W Miles, A Leech (s) d G Sommers, B Moffat, D Whitehead, J McClymont (s) 25-10. Kangaroo Flat 84-18 d Marong 55-0. Midweek - South Bendigo 63-2 lost to Dingee 66-14. R Challinor, A Howe, T Doolan, M Kirkpatrick (s) lost to S Cail, P Plant, B West, F Grieves (s) 13-24. J

North Central Grand Finals

Griffin, M Grogan, L Cairncross, S Bryan (s) lost to A Hay, V Sproull, K Pollock, M Grieves (s) 15-21. R Punton, I Murrell, D Roberts, C Adams (s) d N Thomas, S Lawry, Leo Demeo, Lyn Demeo (s) 35-21. Grand final – White Hills v Dingee at Bendigo East on Monday North Central midweek grand final - Wedderburn 55-2 lost to Boort 8010. S Standfield, N White, A Caserta, A Roberts (s) lost to M Nelson, P Baker, J Maxted, L Maxted (s) 18-27. R Witham, J Murnane, I Hall, L Witham (s) lost to P Gould, A Matley, D Gibson, T Moresi (s) 10-29. H Stephenson, S Steel, R Hall, A Jackson (s) d Y Cashen, G Tweddle, T Noles, I Merce (s) 27-24.

Full report next week,