Moama bowls Premier League stars Kevin Anderson and Cass Millerick were forced to sit out the weekend’s Bendigo Campaspe Bowls Region double-header after being identified as close COVID-19 contacts.
Neither skipper Anderson or Millerick, who usually plays as third to Brad Campbell, were available for either of the weekend’s round eight and nine clashes.
Moama finished the weekend with two wins, despite losing its star skip, re-affirming its place on top of the Bendigo Campaspe Premier League ladder.
Kevin Brennan and Brad Campbell were the key players in Anderson's absence, both winning their rinks to influence the eight-shot win.
Moama finished a 14-4 (75-67) winner in spite of Barry Brennan’s nine-shot defeat and the three-shot loss of Paul Newcombe.
The team now sits 15 points clear of second ranked Eaglehawk, which shot into second place at the expense of South Bendigo.
Eaglehawk was dominant in its 18-nil (90-51) win against bottom of the ladder Bendigo and is now 10 points clear of South Bendigo in second spot.
They will be out of isolation late this week and be ready for round 10 next weekend.
Premier League returned after a two-week Christmas break with the top of the ladder Moama tackling Castlemaine on Saturday and then returning to its home rink on Sunday against second ranked South Bendigo.
As expected the unbeaten Moama Steamers unit easily accounted for Castlemaine on Saturday, but Sunday’s result was much closer as South Bendigo aimed to close the gap on the competition newcomer.
- On Saturday the Steamers were flawless in disposing of eighth ranked Castlemaine, in their return from the Christmas break.
There were no signs of cobwebs for the four rinks, who combined to register an 18-nil (103-57) victory and move further ahead on top of the ladder.
Kangaroo Flat, which had the bye on the weekend, had to watch from the sidelines on Saturday as its two biggest rivals this season both had big wins.
South Bendigo, second on the Bendigo Campaspe Goldfields Premier division ladder, had a 16-2 (86-70) win against bottom of the ladder Bendigo — which is yet to register a win this season.
Bradley Campbell, who has posted some big wins this season alongside Ronald Bunting, Robert Wastell and Robert Young, led his side to a 25-7 victory.
That 18-shot win was almost matched by Paul Newcombe’s rink, which was a 33-16 victor. Kevin Brennan won his rink 20-12, while Barry Brennan stepped up in the absence of Kevin Anderson for a 25-22 win.
With Anderson not playing on Saturday there were several changes to the four rinks, but it certainly didn’t threaten to upset the unbeaten status of the Moama club.
In another huge round for Moama next weekend it will tackle Kangaroo Flat, which is currently still inside the top four.
Eaglehawk and South Bendigo play in another top-of-the-table competition, which has the top four teams of the Premier League pitted against one another.