The RSL Diggers’ Division 4 side is through to next Saturday’s Campaspe Bowls grand final.
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The Diggers produced a heart-stopping victory over Moama in the preliminary final held at the Deniliquin Bowling Club.
The Diggers prevailed by a single shot, 57-56, after a tense battle all afternoon.
Skips Wayne Bradley and John Wilson drew important single shots on their respective rinks with their last bowls to give RSL an overall six-shot lead, with Bruce Clancy’s team just starting their final end.
In a dramatic finish, Moama scored a game-high five shots to fall agonisingly short by the barest of margins.
John Wilson (s), Paul Connor, Graeme Gordon and Callan Glenn led 13-4 after 10 ends and withstood a challenge from Moama to steady, taking six shots to two over the final ends for a great victory.
RSL 18 def Moama 13.
Wayne Bradley (s), Rod Reid, Ian Chessells and Darcy Nilsson were under early pressure, conceding eight shots on the first two ends but chipping away to work their way back into the contest.
They drew level at 16-all on the 15th end and, from that point on, played with great composure, taking seven shots to two over the final ends.
RSL 23 def Moama 18.
Bruce Clancy (s), Peter Todd, Neville Austin and Ella Hipworth led 15-14 with six ends to play but Moama stormed home, scoring 11 shots to one, including a game-high final end five.
However, the efforts of their RSL teammates on the other two rinks saw the Diggers prevail overall by a single shot.
Moama 25 def RSL 16.
Congratulations to the Diggers on a great team performance, and well done to our young players, Ella, Callan and Darcy, for their efforts over the season and on the day.
It was an exciting win for them and epitomised the value of determined and supportive team play, which is such a great feature of our game.
Many thanks to our great group of supporters for their wonderful encouragement and support.
We now look forward to the big game against Echuca at Echuca next Saturday.
We are proud to represent the RSL Diggers and the Deniliquin bowling fraternity next week as the only remaining local side in the weekend pennant season deciders.
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In Midweek Pennant, there will be a local derby as the RSL Diggers come up against Deniliquin Bowling Club in the Division 3 grand final today.
They play at Rochester.
The RSL teams: I Chessells, A Webster, J Jennings, J Wilson (s); R Marchetti, J Rhook, P Todd, N Austin (s). Emergency - G Goodwin.