Kyneton pulls off surprise with narrow away win

Mark Smoljo. Picture Shawn Smits.

By Tara Murray

Kyneton has come from behind to knock off Bacchus Marsh in Central Highlands Bowls’ top division.

Kyneton trailed by 15 shots at the tea break, but turned it around from there to grab a three-shot 84 (15)-81 (3) win.

Alexander Stewart and Mark Smoljo were the winning skips for Kyneton, while Craig Vincent’s rink split the points.

Kyneton president Bob Short said it was a win the side needed.

“We wanted to win on their home ground,” Short said. “We had to win to keep in touch with the top two sides. It’s always hard to win at Bacchus Marsh, so it wasn’t expected.

“It was a surprise, but we put the effort in to come back from being down at half-time.”

Kyneton’s Criag Vincent. Picture Shawn Smits.

Photo Gallery: Bacchus Marsh vs Kyneton

Short said the win was made more pleasing because they were missing two players from the top side.

Kyneton remains in third spot, but there’s only six points between it and the sides above.

Short said the side believed a key area in its bid to finish in the top two was to continue to knock off the other top sides while making
sure not to drop matches against the bottom sides.

“In previous years, we’ve lost games against the Trenthams and Romseys that we should have won,” he said.

“We’re a little bit more determined and focused to make sure we don’t do that this year.

“We’ve learnt from the past. This year we’ve been beating the sides we should beat.”

Kyneton’s second division sides are sitting fourth and fifth, while its division 3 side won its first match of the season on Saturday.

Stewart said the division 3 side contained a lot of young players, including a few 11-year-olds. At the other end of the scale, the side also boasts an 86-year-old.

Stewart said the club was putting a real focus on its junior development and had several players in Victorian junior development squads.

In other division 1 results, Lancefield took all 18 points against Gisborne Yellow, Gisborne Red beat Romsey and Kyneton Golf smashed Trentham.

In Bowls Victoria Pennant, Sunbury claimed all 18 points against Werribee in division 1, section 1.

Second-placed Sunbury won 91 (18)-59 (0).

Lee Wesley’s rink won 17-15 and Mark Cowan’s rink snuck home by 17-16.

Todd Trewarne’s rink picked up 13 shots in the last five ends to win 28-16, and Carla Krizanic’s rink had the biggest success of the day, winning 29-12.

Peter White, who was in Krizanic’s rink, was the standout for Sunbury.