Tara Murray
It was a week to remember for Keilor Bowls Club in Bowls Victoria weekend pennant.
After missing finals the last few seasons, the club’s top side claimed the division 2, section 2 premiership.
It was one of three premierships on the same day for Keilor, with the third and fourth teams also taking out the title.
Chairman Joe Watkins said it had been a massive season for the club.
“For a club perspective we had five Saturday sides and four of them were in finals,” he said.
“Three won their section and it’s been over 20 years since we’ve had three premierships in one season.
“We’re quite happy from a club point of view and it’s a great effort from a little club like us.”
Watkins said the top side hadn’t played finals for at least four or five years before this season.
The top side entered the grand final as underdogs against Melton 2, which had lost just one game for the season.
The match would go down to the wire, with Keilor winning 76 shots to 74.
Each team won two rinks each, with Sam Boslem and Jason Silvestrii the winning skips for Keilor.
“It was great to beat the top side,” Watkins said.
“It was very close for the whole day and we got up by a couple of shots. It’s made sweeter when you beat the team.
“It was a great team effort and a lot of hard work as a group to get ready to play finals. We’re quite ecstatic.“
The club’s other premiers were the third team which beat Aberfeldie CBC in division 5, section 2 and the fourth team, which won the division 6, section 1 title
The top side was set to play off for the overall division 2 title and promotion to division 1 on the weekend. Normally securing a section title would be enough for promotion, but due to a shortened season due to COVID-19, it was a different system this year.
The weekend’s matches were after deadline.
Watkins said promotion would really benefit the club. The club has about 120 bowling members and 60 to 70 social members.
“It means everything for us,” he said. “It makes us a lot more attractive club to come to being in division 1.
“We had pretty good facilities, greens and clubhouse. We would be able to attract a better class of bowlers and it would help the club and help the other sides.”
It was a big week for the club, with their mid week side kicking off its finals campaign.
They lost to Altona on Tuesday in their semi final.
