Essendon Claim Taylor Bowls Premier Division Grand Final
Essendon Bowls Club has claimed the 2019 Taylor Bowls Premier Division flag for Saturday Metropolitan Pennant, defeating Clayton Bowls Club at the Dandenong Club.
Conditions couldn’t have been better for players and fans as over 300 spectators descended on the new-look outer eastern club to cheer on the two Metro teams. Essendon’s last appearance in the Premier Division Grand Final was 2016 after they defeated Melbourne 78-73.
It was a tight contest early, with Essendon 15 and Clayton 17 after 14 ends. Clayton quickly added 11 shots to push their lead out to 36 to 25 after 25 ends. A 10 point deficit continued to linger after 36 ends in favour of Clayton, which Essendon struggled to break for much of the match.
It wasn’t until the 75th end that things started to heat up with Essendon chasing down Clayton 74-70 and by the 78th end scores were level at 74.
A further six ends and the northerners had taken control and three shots up. It was down to rink six of Essendon’s Cheryl Flapper, Ben Simmons, Mark Strochnetter and Brad Willoughby (s) up against Clayton’s Luke Piper, Peter Studd, Geoffrey Robinson and Dylan Fisher (s) to finish things off. Essendon maintained their three-shot lead for a further two ends before doubling the deficit to take home the trophy 82-76.
Bowls Victoria would like to thank all those involved in today’s event including the staff at the Dandenong Club, volunteers, officials, players and spectators for your help and support of the Taylor Bowls Premier Division Grand Final.
