Round 14 of the Campaspe Playing area on Saturday was played earlier due to the heat once again.

RSL Diggers travelled to Lockington for their last away game.

It was previously thought that they were safely in the top four, however a early forfeit by Ky Valley View in Round 13 (that was declared abandoned due to extreme heat that week) gave Rich River 16 points while all other clubs received only 8 points.

It was a contentious ruling, but suddenly RSL were not safe in fourth position.

This meant it was take two and Deni RSL needed to win this round.

The Lockington greens were running at 16, in tip top condition and the Locky people, as always, were very welcoming.

Craig Taylor’s team of Danny Stanmore, John Wilson and Tony “TK” King didn’t score until the fourth end with a 1.

It wasn’t looking promising.

Over the next two ends however they doubled the opposition score by picking up a 5 then 1.

The score was 6-3 after the fifth end.

Adding insult to injury and Taylor, stating later he was not having a good day, they only scored 3 shots over the next 6 ends to be down 9-12 after 11 ends.

The Diggers spirit kicked in and they hung on by way of 1’s and 2’s to reach 15-16 after the 16th end.

Going into the last end both sides picked up two 1’s and the scoreboard was 17-18.

It was a thrilling finish for the Diggers as they picked up a 3 to win the game 20-18.

On the middle rink Niels Hiltons team of Jake Glenn, Jo Chick and Neville Austin faced Dave Thomas (S) who had played off in the Champion of Champions at Stanhope against the Diggers Craig Taylor.

Capable of ruining beautifully set up heads, the Diggers knew he would tire eventually.

The Diggers came out of the blocks firing, Glenn and Chick lobbing shots all over the kitty, Austin and Hilton protecting and adding, they were 11-3 by the fifth end.

What happened next was anyone's guess.

Diggers did not score again until the 11th end with a 3 and the card showed 14 all.

Picking up a 2 compared to Lockys 4, the Diggers were down again after 15 ends, 16-18.

That’s when the Diggers got going.

Glenn had not faltered all game, but the rest of the team rallied and grabbed a 5, then 4 more shots to bring the score to 26-18.

Locky’s skipper, Thomas who had tired, was looking better.

Watching all scoreboards RSL knew they had to hang on and only allowed Locky 3 more shots.

Final score from another great battle was 26-23.

Rod Reid’s team of Chris Frampton, Archie Webster and Pete Thommers on the outside rink had another hard-fought battle.

Webster was unwell but in true Diggers spirit played on.

The team had a task ahead when they hadn’t scored until the fifth end with a 1 and the score was 1-6.

Frampton was leading beautifully and Thommers putting in some fantastic shots, they turned it around to be 8-8 on the 11th end.

The home team won the next four ends and scores were 8-14.

With the greens quickening and the temperature rising, it was obvious the Diggers on this rink were finding conditions as tricky as their teammates.

But as they do, they dug deep and added 11 shots to Locky’s 5 to bring the final score to a thrilling 19-19 draw.

A brilliant effort by Reid and his team to give the Diggers a 2.5 win with an overall score of 65-60.

Adding 15 points to the board, RSL Diggers are now definitely safe in fourth position on 133 points.

In round 15 next Saturday, the last of the home and away games, RSL will host Rich River who are fifth on the ladder with 113 points.

With the temperature currently predicted to be 32, play will commence at normal time of 1:30pm.

Midweek Pennant:

In round 14 of Midweek Pennant, Deni RSL Bowls Club play Rochester at home.

The Diggers sit third on the Division 2 ladder just 4 points above Echuca.

The teams for today are: Lyn Hardcastle, Chris Frampton, Ron Marchetti, Rod Reid (S); Graham Gordon, Jo Chick, Archie Webster, Craig Taylor (S); Ian McKenzie, Miro Peterman, Mally Austin, Niels Hilton (S).

Players are to remember, lunch is provided for the home team.

Deniliquin Pastoral Times Google News Panels

Monday, 27th September 2027

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