THE battle for the minor premiership may be compelling but the race for the finals is not in Central Highlands Bowls Association after the gap between fourth and fifth opened further at the weekend.
Kyneton Red, Lancefield, Woodend and Kyneton Golf can all realistically still aspire to claim top spot on the ladder this season, while missing the finals looks almost difficult to do.
The gap from Kyneton Golf in fourth to Gisborne in fifth is now out to 47 points, while the former is within 19 of top team Kyneton Red.
Red won all four rinks against Gisborne at the weekend in a 111-77 triumph, while Kyneton Golf did the same in a 111-71 win against Bacchus Marsh.
In Metro pennant, Sunbury has staved off relegation fears, at least for another week, after breaking through for its first victory of the season in division 1 section 2.
Sunbury beat fellow relegation-threatened team Glenroy 16-79 to 2-71 to move within striking distance of safety.
Glenroy (89) is seventh on the ladder ahead of Keilor (74), then Ivanhoe (74) is in the relegation zone on shot difference.
Sunbury is still clear 10th and last on 54 points.
Sunbury plays Keilor this weekend in a match it must win.
In women's pennant, Sunbury has emerged as a genuine threat to reigning premier Glenroy after inflicting the ladder leader's first defeat of the season last week.
Sunbury won 14-61 to 2-52 and its 147 points in second on the table is still some way behind Glenroy on 176.
CHBA results:
Division 1 pennant: Romsey 95 lt Macedon 96: R Schwarzenberg 22-29 D Beardmore, G Cuthbert 21-26 D Clements, J Fryer 27-21 N Hughes, A Laing 25-20 D Ryan. Gisborne 77 lt Kyneton Red 111: T Rogers 26-28 B Petrie, C Jardine 15-32 C Vincent, J Bell 18-26 W Clark, G Johnston snr 18-25 A Stewart. Kyneton Golf 111 d Bacchus Marsh 71: R Dwyer 21-17 D Condon, D Lonsdale 32-11 J Fordham, M Andrews 28-20 J Banks, S Taylor 30-23 A McDonald. Kyneton Blue 74 lt Lancefield 117: L Hourigan 22-28 J Bamford, N Rothe 18-28 M Linehan, Ross Oliver 18-27 P Linehan, N Rawlings 16-34 G Charles. Trentham 83 lt Woodend 97: W O'Connell 23-17 A Maher, B Mahar 22-24 A Lefevre, R Dobinson 24-26 M Bacon, C Evans 14-30 J Lefevre.
Ladder: Kyneton Red 193, Lancefield 184, Woodend 180, Kyneton Golf 174, Gisborne 127, Bacchus Marsh 111, Macedon 109, Kyneton Blue 82, Trentham 51, Romsey 49.
Division 2: Woodend Gold 53 lt Woodend Green 103, Lancefield 67 lt Diggers Rest 70, Kyneton 68 d Trentham 61, Mt Cottrell 92 d Gisborne 58, Bacchus Marsh 82 d Kyneton Golf 64.
Ladder: Diggers Rest 144, Mt Cottrell 138, Kyneton 114, Woodend Green 105, Bacchus Marsh 105, Kyneton Golf 89, Trentham 88, Woodend Gold 77, Lancefield 61, Gisborne 59.
Division 3: Woodend 65 lt Romsey 66, Mt Cottrell Blue 78 d Kyneton 72, Bacchus Marsh 77 d Gisborne 48, Macedon 82 d Diggers Rest 50.
Ladder: Mt Cottrell 148, Diggers Rest 120, Romsey 118, Bacchus Marsh 112, Macedon 110, Kyneton 110, Woodend 42, Gisborne 24.
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