By Eric Markham
Monbulk 2 won all their section and division finals to be crowned Division 7 metropolitan champions and premiers for the 2018/19 season.
In the quarter final Monbulk played Keysborough at Boronia and quickly established a handy lead.
Peter Francis’ rink was 10 shots in front after four ends with some excellent front end bowling from Anne Ward and Matt Borkowski, backed up by Alan Brooke and the skipper.
This rink went on to record a convincing win by 16 shots, 30 to 14.
Case Broekhof’s rink maintained control from the first bowl with contributions from all team members Andy Smith, Lorraine McLaren and Jim Bras to win by 30 shots, 36 to 6.
Graeme Goller’s rink led by as much as 12 shots after the twelfth end, but eased up in the last four ends where they dropped 9 shots and just got over the line by 1 shot, 20 to 19.
Eric Furby’s rink met some stiff opposition and trailed by 10 shots after eleven ends.
They then mounted a challenge to get within 3 shots with three ends to go, but eventually lost by 5 shots, 16 to 21.
The overall result was a win to Monbulk by 26 shots, 95 to 69.
Monbulk then played the semi-final against Sunshine RSL at MCC Hawthorn.
Monbulk grabbed control on three of the four rinks right from the start and ran out crushing winners by 77 shots, 125 to 48.
Eric Furby’s rink only lost 5 ends for the game and gained many multiples including a seven to win by 36 shots, 42 to 6.
Graeme Goller’s rink grabbed control after the fourth end when scores were level at 4 shots each.
They then had some excellent bowling from their lead Eric Walsh, second Don Barnetson and their third Jim Anderson, backed up by skip Graeme Goller to win by 26 shots, 34 to 8.
Peter Francis’ rink struggled against some good opposition bowling to go down by 15 shots, 13 to 28.
The Grand Final opponents for Monbulk were Rosamund Bowling Club and the match was played at Darebin Bowling Club which was the venue for bowls in the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games.
The game was a tight contest early with little separating the rinks.
Monbulk gradually edged ahead with Eric Furby’s rink getting on top of its opposition to win by 13 shots, 27 to 14.
Graeme Goller’s rink finished strongly to win by 9 shots, 23 to 14.
Little separated Case Broekhof’s rink for most of the match, but they were able to hold their nerve and win by 2 shots, 17 to 15.
Peter Francis’ rink had a very close battle with all ends being decided by two shots or less.
Peter’s rink with John Prudon back playing as a third lost by 2 shots, 13 to 15.
Overall, Monbulk won by 22 shots, 80 to 58 and were crowned Division Seven premiers which was a mighty effort.
