Sunshine VRI came within five shots of knocking off top side Hoppers Crossing in Bowls Victoria’s division 3, section 1 pennant on Saturday.
VRI, now sitting second last with only one win, played out a highly entertaining game with the ladder leader, falling just short of inflicting Hoppers’ second loss.
With three ends remaining, the scores were tied at 73 apiece, but Hoppers got five shots to take the game out 78-73. Eddie Foss was part of Rippan Datta’s rink, which prevailed 22-14, and said it was one of the best games he had ever played in.
“A brilliant game of bowls,” Datta said. “Those last three ends were nip and tuck and nearly every bowl changed the position of the game. On the last end we were holding two, which would have drawn it, but they picked up three shots and won by five. It was a close loss, but it was an absolutely fantastic game.”
Vic Podesta’s rink also won 20-18, but Robert Puglisi (14-26) and Steve Tucker’s (17-20) rinks both suffered losses.
“We’re hanging in there,” Foss said. “Playing the top side, we had them beat, but we just failed. In close games like this you need to get over the line so we’re disappointed.”
Foss said part of the club’s struggles were due to losing five first-class players, and having to stock the first team with players from division 7.
Also in division 3, section 1, Sunshine RSL had a 50-102 loss to Yarraville-Footscray.
In division 1, section 1, Deer Park had its first loss of the season, going down 59-89 to fifth-ranked Bundoora RSL. In division 2, section 1, Sunshine City moved into the top four with a 99-78 win over Flemington/Kensington.
Keilor lost 69-91 to Strathmore in division 2, section 2, while in division 4, section 1, St Albans lost 75-101 to Werribee’s fourth team.
