Albany Gold open men’s title defence with a victory but key ladies clashes fall victim to the weather

Albany Gold opened the defence of their men’s Lower Great Southern Bowling League division one flag with a comfortable victory over Middleton Beach Green on Saturday.

Despite the weather battering all-comers, the champions prevailed 73-47 thanks to wins on all three rinks.

Rink three, with Craig Hitchcock, Wayne Jones, Richard Plant and Donald King, enjoyed the biggest margin of success, seeing off Green’s Warren Barr, Arthur Becroft, Bill Collins and Barry Rendell 26-13.

Their grand final rivals Emu Point Red were held to a 54-54 draw by Middleton Beach Gold with Gold clinching 3.5 points to Red’s 2.5.

There were one-sided wins apiece in rinks one and two and then a humdinger 19-17 win for Gold on rink three as honours ended even overall.

Things were close between Middleton Beach Black and Mt Barker Golf Red, but Mt Barker claimed the spoils with wins on all three rinks, 23-21, 21-16 and 21-18, leaving Black wondering how a 65-55 defeat left them pointless.

Albany Brown hosted Denmark and won 60-43, Spencer Wegner, Brad Bootsma, Gavin Heseltine and Bernard Driscoll having the best afternoon with a 24-12 victory on rink three.

In the women’s division one, the second-round clash between Middleton Beach White and Emu Point Red was abandoned, as was the meeting between Middleton Beach teams Green and Red.

Mt Barker Golf defeated Denmark Aqua in the only contest which survived the rain, their 47-39 shot tally coming courtesy of wins on both rinks.

Rink one was a tight affair as Sharon Kiddle, Kim Bassett, Karen Wright and Gillian Woodyard edged the Denmark quartet of Kim Rochere, Peggy Warburton, Julie Bridson and Carlien Trotter 18-16.

It was more comfortable on rink two as Mt Barker prevailed 29-23.

Albany Green and Mt Barker White were winners in men’s division two while Albany Green beat club rivals Albany Gold in the only ladies’ match to survive the weather.

Green prevailed 39-28 with their 26-11 rink one victory being the decisive margin.

Cranbrook, Frankland and Middleton Beach Lime were winners in men’s division three.