Three Ocean Grove Midweek teams will do battle for ultimate supremacy in the midweek pennant competition on Tuesday.
In a remarkable turnaround Division One have rallied from ninth position after 11 rounds to now sit within breathing distance of a third successive premiership.
Wins in all matches since that round set up an elimination final against Queenscliff and then a preliminary final against City of Geelong.
Now the decider will be against top side all year, Highton, and they will go head to head on the greens at Belmont.
Earning a week off with an impressive performance in the first semi-final, the midweek division two side will meet Geelong Cement in the season’s decider.
Great form all season and certainly a big chance to take out the premiership Ocean Grove legends such as Marlene Sutton, Val Cook and Marianne Rogan will look to guide their rinks to another Ocean Grove premiership.
The third opportunity for the Grovers will come from the division four side who were in a similar position at one stage to the div one team.
Stringing a few wins together in final rounds saw them earn a top four position and a great win in the semi-final against Clifton Springs was backed up with another terrific performance against Highton.
President Joyce Fraser along with John Izzard, Lorraine Redford and Bryan Olsen were in demolition mode as they tore their opposition apart, winning 43-8.
The decider will also be a head to head battle with Geelong Cement.
Semi-final stage in the Saturday Pennant competition and four Ocean Grove sides featured.
Premier Division and Minor Premiers started their finals campaign in style with a tough fought victory over Lara on the greens at Torquay.
Ignoring arguably the best view in bowls, the Grovers set about the final with their concentration locked into the battle from the early stages.
Tony Joel vs John O’Donnell was a key match-up and with the front end pressure from Linda Flapper and Gary Burkett as lead and two it was the Grovers with the momentum leading 17-10 at the 18 end stage.
Half-time scores 48-43 after 50 ends meant for a tough second half in great conditions.
Mick West had a day to remember and played an outstanding match consistently converting heads against the dangerous Brendan Umbers. West controlled the match to win 25-12.
Craig Hodges against Leigh Butcher was two shots the difference at afternoon tea but with Tom Warren, Owen Clark and Cal Hanna laying the foundation after smoko with great bowls they were able to push out to a 29-16 win.
Division Five finishing the Home and Away season in third place had an elimination final against Inverleigh played at Leopold.
Not able to trouble the scorers in either match this year against Inverleigh the fives stood tall with rink wins to Ron Todd, Bill Ryan and Jim Rogan in what was a close-fought contest and a great team performance across all four rinks.
Overall 99-81 winners and an opportunity to advance to the preliminary final next week against Clifton Springs.
No such luck was had for the Division 8 and 9 sides who both met red-hot Eastern Park sides.
The eights playing across the bridge at Barwon Heads returned back home with a spot in the preliminary final.
The shining light on the day Marianne Rogan skipped her team to an eight-shot win.
Drysdale will aim to be the roadblock for the Grovers to advance to a grand final for this division.
Geelong Cement Bowls club did not turn out to be a happy hunting ground for the Minor Premiers of div nine.
Losses on both rinks will stir the side into action as they will aim to regain form going into the prelim against St Leonards.
