Deer Park beats Bundoora

Deer Park
Deer Park's Brett Mahoney. Picture Damjan Janevski

By Tara Murray

Deer Park has closed the gap on the top two teams in Bowls Victoria pennant premier division, after upsetting second side Bundoora RSL.

With the teams sitting second and third after five rounds, it was a good challenge with both sides looking to be in contention.

The match, though, would be a one-sided affair, with Deer Park winning 77 (17)-56 (1).

Shane Fordham and Brett Mahoney both had big wins for Deer Park respectively over Nathan Murray and Gary Kelly. Fordham had a seven shot win, while Mahoney had the biggest win of the day, beating Kelly 18-9.

James Pearce also had a win for Deer Park, beating Luke Aiello, 20-15.

Brett Spurr and Bundoora young gun Josh Corless shared the points, finishing 19 apiece. Deer Park remains in third spot, but is now only seven points behind Bundoora.

Both sides have four wins out of six matches. Altona is the runaway leader at this stage, 20 points ahead of Bundoora and 27 points clear of Deer Park.

Deer Park
Bundoora player Dean O’Neill. Photo by Damjan Janevski.

In other results, Essendon beat Yarraville-Footscray by one shot in a thriller, Altona smashed Caulfield Park Alma and Clayton beat Mentone.

There was no play between Lilydale and Melbourne with the two teams getting five points each.

There is a competition-wide bye this weekend with the Victorian Open being held in Shepparton.

James Pearce, Andrew Brandon, Michael O’Brien, Michael Baker and Aaron Wood are representing Deer Park in the men’s singles, while Sara Rodger and Andrea Tudorovic are competing in the women’s singles.

For Bundoora RSL, Louie Cenagdzija, Damien Bernasconi, Dean O’Neill, Bradley Schwarzer, Nat Schiavello, Liam Turner, Tony Schiavello, Adrian Marchioli, Jack Woodhouse, Tony Sherwill, Ashley O’Brien and Michael Szabo  are competing in the men’s singles.

In the women’s singles, Jody Nevill is competing.