We are the champions

PREMIERS: Ocean Grove Bowling Club Premier Division celebrate their grand final win over Queenscliff at Belmont Bowls Club. All pictures: Mark Heenan Media. 191808

Ocean Grove clinched the Geelong Ballarat Premier Division bowls premiership against Queenscliff on Sunday.

The Grovers won convincingly by 23 shots – 102 to 79 at Belmont.

It was a superb performance by Grove given the side lost star youngster Kira Bourke during the season due to her family’s move to Queensland.

Ocean Grove was tested by Queenscliff, but answered every challenge.

Matt Flapper’s rink had the biggest win of the day.

The former Commonwealth Games rep led his rink of Cheyne Verrier, Callum Hanna and Bradley Pavey to a 34 to 16 triumph that set the tone.

Leigh McIlvenny skipped his rink to a fine win, 25 to 18. Mark Featherston, Terence Brady and Kenneth Thomas were superb.

Paul Cameron skipped his rink to a narrow 24 to 23 win in a huge effort. Thomas Warren, Tony Joel and Chris Price holding off the Queenscliff rink of John Monohan, Richie McGovern, Tim Smith and Larry Donohue.

Queenscliff got the better of Michael West’s rink, but only by three shots.

Craig Rippon, Brian Boyle and William Collihole helped limit the damage to the overall scoreline in a gutsy performance.

In Division One, Drysdale proved too strong for Ocean Grove, 95 to 80 at Belmont.

Luke Benson (22 to 17) skipped his rink comprising Garry Bowyer, Jeff Howarth and Michael Allen to a win and Rod Brehaut led his rink of Garry Redford, Brian Smith and Craig Hodges to a 21 to 19 triumph.

Drysdale won the other two rinks 27-15 and 32-22 to take a deserved premiership.

Anglesea defeated Ocean Grove in the Saturday Division Three grand final.

Anglesea won 99 to 89.

Craig Bassett’s rink of Noel Johns, Debbie Clancy and Kenneth Bunning had a huge win and Keith Hogan’s rink got up by eight, but Anglesea proved too strong.

Ocean Grove won the Division Seven flag in a thriller against Belmont.

The Grovers got through 93 to 90 with David Harvey’s rink of Dick Clay, Helen Brache and Reginald Hungerford winning 36 to 13 and Lyn Stonehouse skipping her rink to a 24 to 20 win.

Ocean Grove defeated Belmont to claim the Division 10 title.

Wins on both rinks was enough to secure victory 47 to 28 with John Forde, Terry Tinker, Alexander Cook, Graeme Constable, Robert Nicol, Maureen Brooks, John Hoult and Martin Van Doren all premiership players.

IN Midweek grand finals, Ocean Grove went down to City of Geelong in Division One.

City won by 10 shots with Lorraine Kirk skipping her rink of Adele Ryan, Terence Thomas and Michael Allen to a win and Faye Richardson’s rink of Carol Howarth, Jeff Howarth and Rod Brehau was locked at 23-all.

Bell Post Hill proved too good for Ocean Grove in Division Three with a 66 to 57 win.

Marianne Rogan skipped her rink of David Rudge, Anne Way Third and Sandra Murphy to a nice win and Jo Whitehead’s rink of Betty Wilding, Karla Turner and Brian Ryan missed out by the barest of margins.

Bell Post Hill defeated Ocean Grove in Division Four, 80 to 53.

No Ocean Grove wins this time, however, but Elizabeth Braley’s rink of Ray Foley, Heather Allan and Bob Brooks only lost by one.

Drysdale was too good for Ocean Grove in Division Six.

Drysdale won 51 to 44 despite Lorrain Oliver’s rink of John Forde, Jenni Morrow and Reginald Hungerford winning well.