Division 1 had to fight tooth and nail before claiming a narrow victory over Mathoura, eventually triumphing, 62 shots to 52.
Conway Bovell (s), Andrew Holloway, Rob Morris and Craig Hillier had many good moments, but the quality Mathoura opposition - led superbly by the experienced Jason McCloy - always seemed to have the answers on their way to a 24-16 win.
Mark Quor (s), Dawn McCulloch, Chris Taylor and Joanne Bovell were also under pressure, but did enough to snare a 21-all draw.
The clincher for Deniliquin was Steve O’Brien’s rink, along with Terry Taylor, Tony Danckert and John Flisher who comfortably claimed a 25-7 win, to ensure the overall ten shot victory.
Division 3 also had to pull out all stops before defeating Moama Green 37 shots to 28.
Brenda Leetham, Robyn Little, Ken Salter and Mark Law (s) fought out a 17-all draw, while the other rink provided the difference.
Alan Hardcastle called the shots for John Murray, Joy McArthur and Tony King on their way to a solid 20-11 win, and the overall nine shot victory.
With the Bowls Premier League being played all next week at Moama, the Midweek preliminary finals have been put back a week.
The matches are set down for decision on Tuesday, February 27.
•••
The Weekend Pennant season comes to a close tomorrow with two Deniliquin Bowling Club teams seriously in contention to advance to the finals.
Both would need to win to make a certainty of it.
Division 1 host bottom side Stanhope and will start favourite to get the job done - not quite Black Caviar odds, but solid favourites nonetheless.
Having said that, as has been alluded to in previous columns, Stanhope has had some very special moments during the season, and cannot be taken lightly.
In a slightly different scenario, Division 2 take on the quality Echuca outfit who are above them on the ladder.
And just to put on added pressure for a win, the two teams immediately below them play the two bottom sides.
Division 3 are unfortunately already planning for Mad Monday.
Weekend teams are as follows:
Division 1 versus Stanhope at home: R Morris, D Kitchin, B Kemnitz, S Laing (s); C Crothers, J Flisher, S O’Brien, J Shields (s); G Nisbet, C Taylor, P Chadderton, M Quor (s).
Division 2 away to Echuca: T Boyer, J Bovell, C Hillier, S Treble (s); A Holloway, T Taylor, S King, P Snare (s); M Tasker, J Grimshaw, D Hessel, G Thomson (s).
Division 3 v Elmore at home: T Danckert, J Murray, W Pattinson, K Salter (s); L Ritchie, M Atley, T Todd, L Pattinson (s); T King, C Murray, M Donohue, K Hay (s).
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