BRIDGEWATER has the bragging rights and the Bul-a-Bul Cup after a win over local rivals Inglewood in Division 5 of the Bendigo area bowls weekend competition.
Bridgey won 82 shots (14 points) to 69 shots (4 points) at home on Saturday, with all bowlers braving a fierce wind that made it particularly difficult for those using smaller and lighter bowls.
It was the first time the neighbouring towns had met for eight years, as they had been playing in different divisions.
The winning rinks were split two-two, but Bridgewater’s victories were more comprehensive.
The team of Chris Wattie, Nicholas Saunders, Robert Smith and John Fagan won by 14 shots, while Peter Gath, Glenn Catto, Tyler Estrada and Glenn Mangan won by 10 shots.
Inglewood’s wins were by eight shots and three shots.
BRIDGEWATER
The midweek side played Golden Square at Kangaroo Flat in the first semi-final and went down in a close contest by six shots overall. 
The one winning rink was John Fagan, Barb Catto, Jenny Hosking and Chris Wattie, 16 shots to 13.
The club’s annual tournament was held last Sunday with all rinks full. 
The winning side at the end of the night was the Serpentine rink of Gordon Addlem, Shane Rudkins, Lionel Baber and Daryl Mc Crae, with the runners up teams from Bridgewater and Calivil. 
INGLEWOOD 
The Division 5 midweek pennant side is into the grand final after a hard-fought three-point win over South Bendigo in their Monday semi-final clash.
The two rinks won by two shots and one shot respectively, with Inglewood taking out the contest 41 shots (14 points) to 37 shots (0 points).
The team will face the winner of the preliminary final between on March 3.
The Division 1 weekend team faced a massive task in taking on the youthful and strong Strathfieldsaye side, which is three games clear on top of the ladder. 
Playing at home, Inglewood put in a creditable performance in only losing by 11 shots overall.
Best rink on the day was the team of Robert Stranger, Helen Leach, Bruce McClymont and Geoff Wilson (skip) with a five-shot win.
The other three rinks were beaten, but two very narrowly, by only three and four shots.
The final result was Inglewood 66 shots (2 points) defeated by Strathfieldsaye 77 shots (16 pts).
The midweek Division 1 pennant side had a three-shot win over Golden Square in their last game for the season, recording just their second victory.
The team finished second last on the ladder, with two wins, two draws and 10 losses.
The day’s best rink was David Vanston, Bev Taig, Bruce McClymont and Ian Chamberlain (skip), who came away with a four-shot win.
WEDDERBURN
Wedderburn’s defence of its North Central Division 1 title is over after a heartbreaking one-shot loss to Wycheproof in their semi-final clash.
Despite winning two of the three rinks, Wedderburn lost 62 shots (4 points) to 63 shots (8 points). The overall loss came with the last bowl of the contest, with Wedderburn looking like the winners until the very end.
The rink of Rob Guelfo, Bruce Hargreaves, Andrew Caserta and Damien Mason won by 14 shots, and Alan Jackson’s rink won by two, but Laurie Witham’s team fell by 17 shots, which proved to be the difference on the day.
The Division 2 side also had a loss to Wycheproof but lives to fight again after finishing second on the ladder.
Wycheproof won 78-62, winning one rink and losing a second, with one rink drawn.
Unfortunately for Wedderburn, their rink win was by three shots, but the loss was by 19. 
Wedderburn faces St Arnaud Country Club in Saturday’s preliminary final.