Gisborne Red has emerged victorious in its Central Highlands Bowls top division encounter with clubmates Gisborne Yellow.
There was no surprise in seeing the ladder-leading Red side defeat the Yellow side 96 (16)-73 (2).
Gisborne secretary and Yellow player Roger Cotton said the match had an unusual feel.
“It’s different, playing against your club mates instead of playing against the enemy,” he said.
“They’re both competitive sides. The Red side has won the last two premierships, while the Yellow side has improved out of sight this year.”
Tim Rogers, Matthew Bacon and Darrin King led the winning rinks for Red, while Doug Scale was the winning skip for the Yellow team.
Cotton said it was good for the lower-ranked team to get one rink win.
“We could have quite easily won three of the rinks,” he said. “Two rinks were pretty close.”
The win keeps the Red side on top of the ladder, one point clear of Bacchus Marsh.
Chairman of selectors Darren Fletcher said getting a top two spot would be important.
“It’s been very hard to settle the side down with people out almost every week,” he said.
“Hopefully, we can settle the side in the next few weeks.
“We’re still not guaranteed finals. We play Kyneton and Bacchus Marsh in the next two weeks and if we win both of them we can guarantee the double chance.”
Photo Gallery: Gisborne Red vs Gisborne Yellow
While the Yellow side won’t make finals, there’s still plenty on the line for the side.
Yellow is seventh with two wins for the season.
“This week is a grand final for the Yellow side,” Fletcher said.
“They are 22 points ahead of the bottom side and they play them this week.
“If they can pick up a couple of rinks or even get the win, it might seal their spot and avoid relegation.
“It’ll be the first time that a second team has stayed up in the top division for more than one season.”
In other matches, Lancefield has moved into the top four.
Facing perennial finalist Kyneton Golf, Lancefield had a big 106 (16)-74 (2) win. Lancefield is fourth, six points clear of fifth-placed Golf.
Kyneton moved up to third with a 147 (18)-46 (0) win against Trentham.
Bacchus Marsh won three rinks in its win against Romsey. Bacchus Marsh won 109 (16)-78 (2).
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