Liam Phillips

WITH Tanunda locked in a battle for second-spot, and travelling to Eudunda, who sit in a share for fourth, plenty was on the line in its Barossa and Light division one bowls meeting as the visitors left with the chocolates.
The home side had a solid platform after Tait Rogers led his four to a 28-13 rink win, but Tanunda was able to respond by rattling off the other three frames 24-23, 22-16 and 31-14 to pull away to a 90-81 win.
When last-placed Kapunda hosted undefeated league-leaders Angaston, the story went largely according to the script.
Despite Linda Carter nabbing a 24-22 frame for the home side, the visitors flexed their muscles in the remaining rinks, highlighted by the fours of Mathew Short and Liam Buckley, who took 41-16 and 31-11 wins respectively.
In the biggest blowout of the round, Nuriootpa maintained its tie for second-place after going to Freeling and stomping the hosts 114-56.
Things got messy early after the crews led by Wayne Williams and Jim Barr shot out to 40-9 and 33-9 rink wins.
The home fours of Terry Curtis and Joshua Deane performed far more admirably, but only managed a 22-all tie and a 16-19 loss.
In division 2a, Tanunda capitalised on Angaston’s game being rained out by taking sole possession of top spot with its win over wooden-spoon favourites Eudunda.
In a smothering performance, Tanunda defended its home turf in style and held the visitors to just 28 shots for the match, winning 62-28 and sweeping the three rinks.
Fourth-placed Freeling made the trip to third-placed Nuriootpa, and by the time the match was over, the two sides had switched places on the ladder.
Pat Ledsham’s crew won a tight 22-20 rink for the visitors, which was quickly erased by a 22-20 win for the home four led by Pauline Collyer.
The difference was made by Freeling’s Leanne Mullins-led crew, who blew the score out with a dominant 38-7 frame to win the match with a misleading score-line of 80-49.