RACECOURE has continued its undefeated start since Christmas with an 80-60 victory over cross-town rivals Swan Hill in weekend pennant bowls.
It followed beating Murray Downs for the second time this year the previous week, putting them right in premiership contention along with the perennial power.
Comfortable victories on rinks one (27-21) and three (27-14) were what got Racecourse over the line – however, it was a much tighter affair between Norman Smith’s and Lyndon Shadbolt’s teams.
Racecourse managed to get sneak home, but only just, recording a win by the smallest of margins, 26-25.
The green and white appear set for another victory on Saturday, facing the winless Nyah District.
Swan Hill now sit fourth, only 10 points ahead of Moulamein, who are ready and poised to strike on Saturday.
Nyah District v Murray Downs
MURRAY Downs bounced back from their second loss of the season, defeating lowly Nyah District 95-40.
The competition’s benchmark was always going to be eager to redeem themselves after again stumbling against Racecourse, and Nyah was the unfortunate prey.
It was a demolition job on both rink one (33-12) and rink three (43-8), but Nyah didn’t go home empty-handed, winning the second rink by one shot, 20-19.
Just winning a rink against Murray Downs is an incredibly tough task in its own right, so Bryan Smith and his side of Sheena Coe, Kerry Jenkins and Simon Wynne would have been highly pleased.
For Brian Lehmann and his side, though, it would have been a shock loss, and they’ll be keen to bounce back against a tricky opponent in third-placed Lake Boga.
Moulamein v Lake Boga
THE match of the round turned out to be in Moulamein, with Lake Boga surviving a scare 78-65.
It was rink one that made the difference, with Daniel Kelly’s crew winning comfortably over Kerryn Evans and her team 30-15.
It proved to be a crucial victory with the other two rinks before a much tighter affair, including rink three finishing 27-25 in Boga’s favour.
Moulamein did win the remaining rink 25-21, but it wasn’t enough.
Moulamein is still in with a sniff of snatching fourth place from Swan Hill, but will need to get on a winning streak with only three games to go.
They’ll have the ultimate chance to do so when they take on Swan Hill in a massive game which will, if they lose, most likely ruin their finals aspirations.
