Moama recorded yet another victory to forge ahead in the top division of the Campaspe Playing Area midweek pennant, comfortably accounting for Rochester 14-77 to 2-51 at home.
Skip Robert Wastell led his team of Colleen Maslen (lead), Denise Pappin (second) and Stuart Whyte (third) to a mammoth 37-5 win in the first rink, laying the foundation for the big victory.
Kaye Barker’s rink clawed back some of the deficit for Rochester, claiming a handy 26-17 win in the second rink; however, Marilyn Stephenson skipped her Moama quartet to a 23-20 victory in the final rink to secure a comfortable victory.
The third consecutive triumph means Moama has leapt a game clear of the field on top of the ladder, remaining the only unbeaten side through three rounds.
The Steamers will face second-placed Echuca next Tuesday in a top-of-the-table clash, while Rochester will look to bounce back from its first loss of the season when it takes on Deniliquin.
Echuca suffered its first loss of the season when it took on Mathoura, with the visitors prevailing 12-60 to 4-59 in a close encounter at Echuca Bowls Club.
The home side enjoyed a slender advantage after winning the first rink, as Roma Opie skipped her team to a 19-18 victory.
Kerryn Evans widened the margin to three shots in the second rink, as Echuca won 24-22 and looked well poised to wrap up the encounter in the third rink.
However, Beryl Murray (skip), Jennifer Chalmers (lead), Ron Parry (second) and Dennis McHarry (third) had other ideas, doing just enough to power Mathoura to the win with a four-shot victory in the final rink, winning 20-16 and taking the overall clash by a single shot.
Echuca remains second on the ladder despite the loss and will look to stop Moama’s unbeaten run when they meet next week, while Mathoura will face the winless Rich River.
Deniliquin and Rich River battled it out to secure their first win of the season, with Deniliquin putting itself on the board with a 13-57 to 3-44 victory at home.
Elizabeth Easther got the visitors off to a strong start, as the skip led her side to success with a 15-14 win.
The tense affair continued in the second rink as the two sides couldn’t be split, with skips Mark Quor (Deniliquin) and Trevor Nagorcka (Rich River) both leading their sides to 16 shots apiece.
It was the final rink in which the damage was done, with Deniliquin turning a one-shot deficit into a 13-shot lead courtesy of Stephen O’Brien and his team, who won 27-13 to put the result beyond doubt.
Deniliquin will face a good test next Tuesday when it travels to take on Rochester, while Rich River will continue the hunt for its elusive first win against Mathoura.
Division two
Deniliquin RSL consolidated top spot on the ladder with a clean sweep of Rochester, claiming all three rinks en route to a 16-77 to 0-38 win to remain unbeaten.
Moama also enjoyed a big win, accounting for Stanhope 16-78 to 0-37, also continuing its perfect run to stay in touch with Deniliquin RSL.
Echuca proved too strong for Ky Valley View, winning 14-71 to 2-50, securing its first win of the season to leap into third place on the ladder.
Rich River had the bye.
Division three
Deniliquin RSL ensured it kept an unblemished record at the end of round three, winning 12-46 to 2-39 over Mathoura and holding a firm grip on top spot.
Lockington also had a strong result, claiming a 14-42 to 0-32 win over Rochester to remain second on the ladder, joining Deni RSL as the only other unbeaten side.
Echuca edged out Rich River 12-43 to 2-34 in their clash, moving Echuca to fifth on the table, while Moama Black defeated clubmates Moama Green 12-40 to 2-30, with the two sides now sitting fourth and third respectively.
Elmore got its first win of the season, beating Deniliquin 12-43 to 2-36, while Tongala Red and Tongala Yellow were unable to be split, each recording a score of 7-33.
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