Big guns struggle as Moama and Inglewood fire in pennant bowls | Photos

East slumped to its third loss in a row after they went down at home to Moama by 12 shots, while Bendigo's second game of the season resulted in a heartbreaking four-shot loss to a plucky Castlemaine side.

East can't take a trick in the early stages of the season.

The Beasties won two rinks and drew another, but a lopsided fourth rink proved match-defining.

Moama's Kevin Brennan thrashed East's Greg Podesta 31-11 to ensure the visitors claimed the points.

Bendigo didn't play poorly, but made the trip back up the Calder without the points.

Bendigo skipper Andrew Brown scored an impressive 27-14 win over Castlemaine star Peter Brain, but that win was overshadowed by Rod Phillips' 31-9 demolition of John Jennings.

Castlemaine and Bendigo split the other rinks in tight contests and the 'Maine held on for its second win of the season.

While East and Bendigo are in a slump, Eaglehawk, Moama and Inglewood have set the competition alight.

Eaglehawk won three of the four rinks in its 11-shot win over Golden Square.

Square skipper Garri Conforti kept his side in the match by taking down the in-form Brayden Byrne 24-13.

However, the Hawks' other three experienced skippers all produced strong wins.

Darren Burgess won by six shots, Marc Smith by 12 shots and Dean Carter by four as the Borough grabbed a five-point lead at the top of the ladder.

Inglewood is the surprise packet after three rounds.

After having the bye in round one, Inglewood narrowly defeated Castlemaine in round two and catapulted off that win into a 25-shot thumping of flag fancy Kangaroo Flat.

Inglewood won three of the four rinks, highlighted by Robert Day's 27-8 victory over Cameron Keenan and Mal McLean's 22-14 victory over Cameron Wilson.

Saturday's results:

Division one - Golden Square 74 lt Eaglehawk 85. L. Bowland 19 lt D. Burgess 25, T. Berry 14 lt M. Smith 26, J. Berry 17 lt D. Carter 21, G. Conforti 24 d B. Byrne 13.

Bendigo East 69 lt Moama 81. I. Ross 17 dr B. Campbell 17, A. Tomkins 21 d K. Anderson 20, G. Podesta 11 lt K. Brennan 31, J. Moloney 20 d P. Newcombe 13.

Kangaroo Flat 64 lt Inglewood 89. C. Wilson 14 lt M. McLean 22, C. Keenan 8 lt R. Day 27, D. Keenan 22 d L. Kelly 17, B. Anset 20 lt G. Jackson 23.

Castlemaine 76 d Bendigo 72. G. Brain 16 d G. Woodward 15, P. Brain 14 lt A. Brown 27, R. Phillips 31 d J. Jennings 9, J. Oliver 15 lt L. Manning 21.

Ladder - Eaglehawk 43, Moama 38, Inglewood 32, Castlemaine 32, Kangaroo Flat 20, South Bendigo 18, Golden Square 16, Bendigo East 9, Bendigo 8.

Division two - Harcourt 82 d Marong 67, Bendigo 48 lt Kangaroo Flat 106, Bendigo East 92 d White Hills 63, Eaglehawk 103 d Strathfieldsaye 86.

Division three - South Bendigo 108 d Bendigo 49, Heathcote 71 lt North Bendigo 82, Strathfieldsaye 80 lt Serpentine 82, Golden Square 84 d Bendigo East 67.

Division four - White Hills 78 lt Castlemaine 91, Marong 79 lt South Bendigo 84, Kangaroo Flat 100 d Golden Square 46, Woodbury 77 d Bendigo East 68.

Division five - Calivil 69 lt Marong 84, Castlemaine 70 d Dingee 62, Campbell's Creek 77 lt Eaglehawk 82, Inglewood 96 d Kangaroo Flat 74.

Division six - Strathfieldsaye 110 d Bendigo 61, Bridgewater 70 lt South Bendigo 81, Kangaroo Flat 96 d Harcourt 58, Eaglehawk 88 d Woodbury 70.

Division seven - South Bendigo 70 d Heathcote 50, Kangaroo Flat 95 d Strathfieldsaye 36, Bendigo East 54 lt Golden Square 65, Bendigo VRI d White Hills 39.

Division eight - Harcourt 58 lt Kangaroo Flat 64, Marong 54 lt Woodbury 61, White Hills 62 d North Bendigo 49.

Round two of the midweek pennant season will be played on Monday.

The highlight of the round is the clash between traditional rivals Eaglehawk and Kangaroo Flat.

Eaglehawk scored an impressive win over Bendigo East in round one, while the Roos defeated White Hills by 21 shots.

Round two matches - White Hills v Bendigo East, Golden Square v Castlemaine, Bendigo v Inglewood, Eaglehawk v Kangaroo Flat.

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