Tara Murray
Williamstown’s top side came away with the premiership in a record-breaking weekend for the club in the Bowls Victoria pennant section grand finals.
For the first time, the club had three sides finish the regular season in the top two. All three won their semi-final, with the top side, which plays in division 3, section 1, the only one to go onto win their grand final.
The club’s Greg Donohue said it had been a really good year for the club.
“The first time ever three of four sides finished in the top two,” he said.
“It’s fantastic to get three sides into finals. To get them playing in the grand final is a huge achievement.”
Donohue, who plays in the top side, said the team had been on top for most of the year.
He said they were confident heading into the grand final against Rosamond, which had finished the regular season in second place.
“We played some of the other top sides recently,” he said. “We had some really good results.
“We were ahead all day and we got within two shots.
“Our rink was down and we were getting belted and we were thinking we were going to lose it for the club.
“We then pulled it back. The whole team came back pretty well in the end.”
Williamstown won 79 shots to 63, with three of the four rinks winning. Jeff Newton, Chris Hammer and John Cassidy were the winning skips.
Donohue said it had been about three years since they had won their last premiership.
The top side has secured promotion into division 2 for next season and will now play off against the other section winners to try and claim the overall division 3 title.
Donohue said they had only claimed the overall division title three times in 140 years.
He said winning the section title had been the “big one” and anything else was a bonus.
“In the section, you’re playing against the local blokes and they’re always good sports and you know them.
“It’s always fun playing them.”
