Denison takes Batavia Leauge pennant to follow on from country week success

Denison Blue took down the defending champions Geraldton Red in the final of the Batavia League bowls at Wonthella Bowls Club on Sunday afternoon.

Denison won the final 65-55 with wins on rink one and three to secure another title for the club following their country week success on Friday.

Denison finished in fourth place and first had to get past Wonthella Gold which they managed thanks to a big win on rink three 23-12 which offset a five-shot loss on rink two, taking the match 56-48.

Next came Geraldton Gold who had lost the first semifinal to Geraldton Red as they bowed out of the finals in straight sets with another big win on rink three securing the match.

Gold had edged the first rink 17-16 but Denison picked up 13 shots on rink three skippered by country week fours champion Joel Leeson to book their spot in the decider against the Reds.

It was a full house at Wonthella as the teams battled out for the title but Denison were too strong as they denied the Reds the opportunity to go back to back.

The damage was done on rink one skippered by fellow country week champion Ian Payne where they picked up nine shots in a 22-13 win.

Joel Leeson skippered another win on rink three 26-20 as Geraldton had to settle for runners-up this year despite a five-shot win on rink two.

It was a terrific performance by Denison who on Friday confirmed their status as the best in the West as Joel Leeson, Peter Leeson, Ian Payne and Paul Hitchcock combined to win the country week fours title.

The knockout format of country week saw the quartet win six games in a row kicking out Kellerberrin, a composite side, Middleton Beach and Corrogin to set up a final against Narembeen led by Michael Currie.

However, Denison were far too strong in the final winning 21-12 and securing the first fours title for a Mid West sqaud for the first time since 2014.

Hitchcock briefly flirted with history making it through to the quarterfinals in singles and pairs in an effort to be the only man to ever win all three titles.

However, he and his partner Ian Payne fell to eventual pairs champions Brad Bell and Dominic Milbourne from Narembeen 14-12 while he also fell at the quarterfinals to Mandurah’s Glenn Dunn in the singles 21-18.

Denison didn’t quite win everything over the weekend, however, as Mullewa secured the division two final 41-23 over Denison White.