With one round remaining there are plenty of twists and turns to come before the finals of the Big Bowls Invitational Challenge.
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Group two remains the most fascinating with Raymond Terrace Jets and Maitland City Hunters on top with 86 points after playing out a 7.5-all draw on Friday night.
The Hunters face East Cessnock Comets in the match of the round on Thursday night with the loser likely to drop to third and be out of contention for the top-six play-offs and first prize of $10,000.
The Comets did themselves no favours after falling 5-10 to Kahibah in round nine’s encounter on Thursday and sit third on 84.5 points.
The Jets are favourites to top the group with a home game against bottom-two team Alder Park to close out the regular season.
Raymond Terrace will be after a bonus-point win to secure a top-two finish across the competition.
The top two finishers play for a spot in the grand final. The loser plays the winner of a play-off series among third to sixth.
Hunters skipper DJ Dilworth said it was exciting to be part of such an exciting finish.
“The play-offs have started a week early for us. We can get through with a draw or an 8-7 result. These are the type of games you play bowls for,” he said.
“We always knew it was going to be a tough group.
“You’ve got three of the best teams going around in Big Bowls.
The Jets have won the past two titles, East Cessnock have been finalists the past four years and we were minor premiers three years back.”
Kurri Kurri Cannons put themselves in contention to finish on top of group three and to grab a coveted top-two competition spot with a bonus point win against Lambton in their round nine encounter.
The Cannons top the group with 91 points from Nelson Bay Marlins (86.5) and East Maitland Griffins (76.5).
The Cannons host Soldiers Point on Thursday night and need a big win to keep the Marlins at bay.
The Griffins are away to Lambton and can climb to second in the unlikely event of the Marlins having an upset loss to bottom-placed Wallsend.
Beresfield Magpies (93) have secured a play-off berth and need 10 points or more against Charlestown Tigers to finish one of the two best performed group winners and earn a double chance.
Terrigal (78.5) appears the most likely team to finish second in group one but they have the NDBA Rep side (70.5) hot on their heels and cannot afford to slip up.
