Romsey vs Kyneton Golf for 23-24 BHBR Highlands Saturday Pennant Div 1 Final

No surprise, it’s Romsey versus Kyneton Golf in the Highlands playing area Division 1 bowls pennant grand final for the 2023-2024 season in the Ballarat Highlands Bowls Region.

These two combatants finished first and second on the ladder and are set for a real showdown in the grand final scheduled for Sunday, 10th March 2024 at Lancefield Bowling Club.

Due to expected hot weather on the day, the Highlands pennant committee has changed the Div 1 grand final time to a 10am start.

Romsey is chasing its first ever top grade (Div 1) premiership, while reigning premier Kyneton Golf is primed to make another bid to add to its illustrious grand final winning record.

On Saturday, 9th March, Kyneton Bowling Club will host the Division 2 grand final – also between Romsey and Kyneton Golf, along with the Division 3 grand final between Lancefield and Gisborne.

The Saturday – Sunday grand finals promise to provide a fitting finale to the Highlands Saturday pennant season.

Highlands match committee chair, John Coates, confirmed the Kyneton and Lancefield venues for the grand finals earlier this week.

There was plenty of speculation on the likely venue for the Division 1 grand final, and Lancefield is thrilled to be chosen for the big occasion on Sunday.

Renowned turf consultant Craig Vincent will be working hard to ensure the Kyneton and Lancefield greens are in peak condition for the grand finals.

First and second semi-finals in all divisions were completed last Saturday, and preliminary finals took place at Kyneton on Sunday.

There were no real surprise outcomes, with favourable weather conditions on both days.

ROMSEY READY

“We’re not getting ahead of ourselves,” Romsey coach Garry Templar said after the Redbacks defeated Kyneton Golf by 18 shots in the second semi-final on Saturday.

Romsey earned the home semi-final by finishing on top of the ladder.

“I’m glad, after four years in finals, we finally cracked it for a good win.”

“Kyneton Golf is a very good, competitive side, but we are certainly ready for Sunday’s grand final,” Garry said.

With just three shots the difference at the half way break, the coach said the fightback by Matt Brundell’s rink against Adrian Plowman was very important in the second stanza.

This helped take the pressure off as the other rinks with Aaron Young and Cam Austin in charge continued to play well, with the overall lead extended to secure a 64-46 victory.

Aaron won by 14 shots against Ray Wilkinson, and Cam finished 12 ahead of Toby Barker.

Among the spectators supporting Romsey was Moonee Valley Premier League player Nathan Lynch (Garry Templar’s grandson) who said he was impressed by the standard; Nathan is playing in the Premier League grand final.

Romsey recruited strongly in the lead-up to this season, and the chance to make history and be part of Romsey’s first-ever Division 1 premiership team is there on Sunday.

Last season, Romsey Cricket Club broke a 40-year premiership drought, and community support for the Redbacks should be at a very high level on Sunday. Expect a large crowd at Lancefield Park.

KYNETON GOLF IN FORM

Kyneton Golf can be likened to a large close-knit family, with an abundance of very experienced quality players who can rise to the occasion when it matters.

Some have enjoyed considerable success at other clubs.

Golf will be happy to be back on a grass surface instead of synthetic, and in the last home and away round Golf won at Lancefield by 38 shots.

In the preliminary final on Sunday, Golf defeated arch rival Kyneton by 12 shots and the big occasion should not worry them.

“Since 2000, we’ve been a pretty successful club,” long time Golf secretary John Trounce said, referring to a multitude of premierships and finals successes across the board.

“We’re a chance of getting a double at the weekend,” John said, though he felt Romsey was entitled to go into the Division 1 grand final as favourite.

Kyneton Golf’s Division 2 side won the knockout first semi-final against Gisborne by 13 shots, then held off a strong challenge by Kilmore in the preliminary final.

Romsey’s Division 2 side thrashed Kilmore 81-43 in a one-sided second semi-final.

In Division 3, top side Lancefield struggled initially at home to Gisborne in the second semi-final as the visitors soon opened up a 20-shot margin.

By the tea break it was one shot the difference, and on resumption the Tigers gained multiple numbers across the board, eventually winning by 14 shots. Keith Webb’s rink staged a huge comeback to win 31-15.

Gisborne regrouped on Sunday in Division 3, defeating Romsey by 16 shots, with the Redbacks coming off an all fours up victory over Kilmore.