Yarraville Footscray is a step closer to its first Bowls Victoria weekend pennant premier division championship.
Having not made finals since 2006 in the top flight, the Bulldogs upset minor premiers and two-time reigning premiers Deer Park in the semi finals on Friday night.
Bowls manager Wayne Roberts, who plays in the top side, said it was a pretty special moment to be in the grand final.
“It was a big result for the club and big for ourselves,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming and we’ve been trying to do it for many years.
“We’ve never been in a grand final in the premier league. We won division 1 premierships, but never been in premier.
“The last time we made finals was 2006. It’s been a long time and a lot of players have come and gone in that time.”
Roberts is the Bulldogs longest standing player and has seen a lot of the highs and lows over the years.
He said Garry and Nelson Ball, James Banks and Geoffrey Robinson were among the others who had been at the club a long time and been through the journey.
In the semi final win against Deer Park, the Bulldogs were able to hold their composure in the 85 (15)-75 (3).
Roberts said the start was the key to match especially against a really experienced line up.
“The boys stepped up to the plate on Friday night,” he said. “It was a good effort by all 16 players.
“We got off to a great start before three quarters through they got it back to three shots.
“The next couple of ends we were able to score and we had a buffer again.”
Roberts said Craig Mills and Cohen Litfin’s rinks had strong finishes to ensure they got the wine.
Litfin’s rink won 22-18 and Mills’ rink had a big win, winning 32-14.
Nathan Black’s rink shared the points after finishing 18-all, while Brett Mahoney’s rink lost 25-12.
Roberts said they had been planning to stay away from the preliminary final between Deer Park and Melbourne, which was played on Sunday.
The Bulldogs will face Deer Park again in Sunday’s grand final, after the Parkers beat Melbourne, 83 (14)-77 (4).
The Parkers will be going for a third straight premiership.
Speaking before that match, Roberts said whichever side they faced in the grand final it would be a challenge.
The grand final will be played this Sunday at Moonee Ponds.
“We know whichever side we play against, we have to be at our best,”
Elsewhere, Yarraville Footscray’s fifth side lost its division 5, section 1 grand final to Deer Park 4, 87 (16)-64 (2).
In division 5, section 2, Footscray Park beat Essendon 4, 86 (16)-67 (2).
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