The dream of back-to-back Bowls Victoria weekend pennant premier division championships remains alive for Yarraville Footscray.
The Bulldogs got through two tough finals on the weekend against Altona and Deer Park to win through to the final game of the season against Moonee Valley.
Bulldogs’ Wayne Roberts said they were pretty happy to be back in the grand final.
“It’s been a long hard slog to get there,” he said
“We had Altona on Saturday and that was a close game there and we were able to get over the line.
“Yesterday [Sunday] it was hard fought against Deer Park which we expected from them.
“We were able to get over the line.”
On Saturday, the Bulldogs beat Altona 84 (16)-66 (2).
Just six shots separated three of the rinks with Craig Mills’ rink win, 27-12 against Dane McKinnon, gave the Bulldogs some breathing room.
Jay Bye-Norris’ rink had a 21-15 win against Nathan Wilson’s rink, while Brett Mahoney’s rink beat Matthew Ellul’s 20-18.
Aaron Wilson’s rink was the sole winner for Altona, winning 21-16 against Nathan Black.
On Sunday, it was the Bulldogs that got off to a flier against Deer Park.
They led early before Deer Park fought back in the middle ends and at one stage led by 11 shots.
“We started well but they picked up the pace,” Roberts said.
“The last 10 games were big games and they went our way.
“Nathan Black’s rink picked up six shots on its last end and Jay Bye-Norris’ rink picked up five shots on its last end.
“It steadied the ship and we were able to play it safe the last few ends.”
The Bulldogs won, 80 (16)-63 (2) with the game called off with one end renaming.
Craig Mills’ rink won 18-12, Nathan Black’s won 22-19 and Bye-Norris’ rink won 27-11.
Roberts said this season hadn’t been the easiest, but they had got there in the end.
He said the addition of four new players meant it had taken time for the group to settle and find their feet.
“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.”
The Bulldogs will face Moonee Valley in Sunday’s grand final at 4pm in Dandenong.
Roberts said that Moonee Valley would go in as favourites.
