It was heartbreak for Yarraville-Footscray as it fell just short of claiming a second straight Bowls Victoria weekend premier division premiership on Sunday night.
Having fired late in the season to win through to the grand final. the Bulldogs had to overcome Moonee Valley in Sunday’ decider at Dandenong.
Moonee Valley had been the side to beat throughout the season and had won the minor premiership and won straight through to the grand final.
The grand final would be one that would go down to the final bowl with the lead changing throughout.
Moonee Valley was able to do enough to win, 75 (15)-72 (13).
Both sides had their chances.
It was Moonee Valley that got off to a flier and led by 10 shots after 38 ends.
Like they did the previous weekend in the minor finals, the Bulldogs had to come from behind after a slow start.
They levelled the scores after 44 ends.
It was then the Bulldogs turn to go on a run and they led by 10 shots after 59 ends.
The two teams would trade shots throughout the next period with the Bulldogs still leading by four shots with eight ends remaining and one step closer to back-to-back titles.
Moonee Valley continued to pick up shots and by the 81st end was leading again.
Moonee Valley would pick on shots on the next couple of ends to lead by four shots heading into the final end.
Yarraville-Footscray needed four off the final bowl, to send it to a bowl off.
The Bulldogs could only pick up one shot to lose 75 (15)-72 (13).
Brett Mahoney was the only winning skip for the Bulldogs, with his rink winning 22-15. The margin was larger but Moonee Valley led by Nathan Lynch picked up nearly 10 shots late in the piece to bring his side back into the match.
Jay Bye-Norris’ rink tied with Kane Nelson, 16-all, while Craig Mills’ rink lost to Dylan Fisher, 20-18
In the other rink, Nathan Black lost 24-16 to Mathew Rennex’s rink.
Speaking before the grand final, Bulldogs’ Waynes Roberts said a lot of people had written the side off early in the season.
“We never give up and we fight to the end,” he said. “We’ve been behind a number of times this year and fought back.
“We started off slowly and lost our first two games and at one stage three games in a row.
“People were saying that we would be the first team ever to be relegated after winning a premiership.
“We were written off early.”
