Geraldton Blue beat clubmates Red to go top in thrilling Batavia Bowling League men’s pennants game

Geraldton Blue are first in the Batavia Bowling League with three rounds to go after they knocked their clubmates out of the top spot in a thrilling men’s pennants showdown.

Just two shots separated Red and Blue after 63 ends as Saturday’s top-of-the-table first-division encounter did more than live up to the hype.

Red won 62-60, with the sides winning one rink each and splitting the third.

Kim Trotter, Brad Criddle, Neil McIlwaine and Neil Bond’s nine-shot victory over Joe Cukela was crucial for the Blues.

Reds’ Brad King, Wes Jones, Kevin Watson and Warwick Glenister kept the match alive until the final end with a seven-shot win over Mike Ford.

A top-notch match-up between Peter Reudavey and Jon Trotter ended on 18 apiece.

The round highlighted the competitiveness of the series.

Four of the five matches played were decided by two shots or fewer, and seven of the 10 sides have a mathematical chance of playing finals at Denison in March.

Wonthella Gold survived a spirited encounter with Geraldton Gold by a single shot, 60-59, to stay third and keep hopes alive for a tilt at the top two and a double-chance semifinal.

A 12-shot, 30-18 win to Eddie Dodd over Kevin Robartson was the defining match-up of the game.

Shane Guidice-Nairn reduced the margin to one with a 23-12 defeat of Tony O’Brien, and the final match ended 18-all to Steve Palmer and Michael Walton.

Mullewa beat a gallant Northampton by a single shot, 56-55, to take a 5-1 win in the country derby.

The result keeps the Saints within touching distance of finals.

Mullewa’s premier rink, skipped by Mick Thompson, beat Dale Maver 20-16 in a highly competitive encounter.

Murray Watt returned to the skipper’s spot and took a 21-20 win over Saff Horobin.

Marty Parker earned the Rams’ point, with a 19-15 result against Vince Knight.

Denison White claimed a crucial 5-1 win over sister side Blue, winning on aggregate by two shots.

It allowed them to to stay in touch of finals.

The Whites’ points came through Paul Hitchcock and Ian Carlshausen, who scored 25-14 and 20-16 against Peter Leeson and Ian West.

The Blues almost claimed an unexpected aggregate, with Ian Payne’s side storming to the line and beating Ian Cliff’s quality quartet 23-10.

In the final match-up, fourth-placed Wonthella Green had a a dominant 5-1 (74-44) win over Wonthella Maroon.

This Saturday’s match of the round will be on the Wonthella synthetic surface, with the Green Machine hosting Geraldton Blue.