By Tara Murray
Lancefield is the first team through to the Central Highlands Bowls’ top division grand final.
In what has been a close competition all season, Lancefield claimed its first victory over Gisborne Red in a number of years to win through to the grand final.
Lancefield president Mark Godbolt said it was a massive win for the club.
“It was really important,” he said. “The top four teams, and even Kyneton which finished fifth, could beat you on their day.
“For us it’s pretty important as it instills belief in the group that we can beat Gisborne, we had lost the last four or five matches against them.
“It’s really good.”
Lancefield got off to a good start against Gisborne and held on in the second half when things got tight.
In the end they won, 108-91, winning three rinks along the way.
“To get three rink wins, especially in a final when it always tightens up towards the end, is really good,” Godbolt said.
“The last 20 ends it did that, but we were able to keep the foot on the stroke.
“We spoke about it at half-time, to hold your position if you’re up, and if behind to keep the pressure on.”
Godbolt said it was a really good team performance.
Photo Gallery: Gisborne Red vs Lancefield
Godbolt, Aaron Young and Jeffrey Holmes led the winning rinks for Lancefield, while Matthew Bacon was the winning skip for Gisborne.
The grand final is Lancefield’s second in three years, having lost to Gisborne in the 2016-17 season.
Godbolt said they had improved a lot since that loss.
“That loss hurt a lot,” he said.
“We have strengthened our side with some young guys and a few older blokes who have returned to the club.
“We’ve got 19 players pushing for the division 1 side, which is really good. We’re in a good position.”
Lancefield will face Gisborne Red or Bacchus Marsh in the grand final next weekend.
Bacchus Marsh won through to the preliminary final against Gisborne, with a big win against Kyneton Golf.
Bacchus Marsh won three rinks on the way to a 109-82 win.
Adrian Plowman was the only winning skip for Kyneton Golf.
Godbolt said the grand final would be a good contest, whichever team they faced.
In division 2, Bacchus Marsh won through to the grand final with a two shot win against Woodend. Woodend will face Kyneton Red in the preliminary final, after beating the Macedon Ranges.
Gisborne is through to the division 3 grand final and will face the winner of Bacchus Marsh and Romsey.
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