Only 12 shots separated the teams after the four rinks were completed earlier this season, and they will meet again this weekend at Moama in the 12th round of the home and away season.
Moama’s only winning skip from that round three match was Kevin Brennan; his 20-shot win against Gregory Podesta was the difference between the two clubs.
Bradley Campbell managed a draw on his rink, but star skip Kevin Anderson lost by a shot to Aaron Tomkins, and Paul Newcombe lost by seven shots.
Apart from its round 10 defeat at the hands of Kangaroo Flat, it is the most pennant points any team has taken from Moama in a round this season. Bendigo East walked away with five pennant points (two rink wins and a draw) for the day.
Bendigo East is currently ranked fourth, but has wins against both the teams directly above it on the ladder — in round 11 by two shots against third-ranked Kangaroo Flat and in round seven when it was a 25-shot winner against second-placed Eaglehawk.
The East team has a 5-5 win-loss record to this point of the season, with Aaron Tomkins its best-ranked skip with a 6-3 win-loss record (with one draw).
Podesta is the sixth-ranked skip in the Premier League competition, both of those bowlers ranked ahead of Campbell (10th), Anderson (15th) and Barry Brennan (35th).
Apart from the Castlemaine and Bendigo clash, which are the bottom two teams, there is a margin separating all the combatants this weekend on the ladder.
- Tongala has a chance to cement its place in the Campaspe weekend division one top four when it tackles fourth-ranked Moama on the weekend.
Tongala moved into the top four (sitting third) after its big win against Mathoura last weekend, while Moama is just one point behind it in fourth.
Tongala lost the corresponding match earlier in the season by five shots.
Brad Tinning will be key for Tongala, his season having brought four wins and a draw from seven matches. He is the third-ranked skip in the Campaspe division one weekend competition.
Graeme Hinsley is the sixth-ranked skip, having the best record of any Moama skip with four wins and two defeats. He is one behind a second Tongala skip, Greg Lyon.
Including this weekend there are six weeks of the home and away season remaining. Only Echuca is guaranteed a finals spot, with second to fifth only separated by 15 pennant points.
Rich River will be aiming for a points boost against bottom-of-the-table Rochester, having won by 26 shots earlier in the year.
Mathoura’s season is on the brink as it is drawn opposite premiership hot-pot Echuca.
Mathoura is only 12 points outside the top four, but has a round 10 bye and then faces second-ranked Deniliquin the following week.
Inside Monday’s sports pages of The Riv will be full details from Friday’s midweek bowls round and details of all divisions from the weekend’s Campaspe bowls competition.
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