MEN’S BOWLS NEWS SATURDAY JANUARY 28th (Terry Norwood reporting)
A few reminders/items of interest to begin with:
- The Chris Benton Memorial event will be staged next Saturday February 4th. There is still space on the programme for more teams and there are a few bowlers hoping to link up with others to make a team. So bowlers, if you are interested there are probably still players around to make up a team.
- Nominations for the Men’s Major Triples Championship closed on January 27th. The draw should be posted on the notice board very soon, so keep an eye out for that.
- Trial matches/training for Pennants is now underway and will continue through until the season opens on February 25th. Details will be posted on the notice board, so those who’ve nominated for Pennants need to keep appraised of that.
- The final of the Men’s Minor Singles Competition will be staged on Saturday February 11th commencing at 12.30.
- Wednesday social bowlers are reminded of the send-off for Lawrence and Carol Vipond which will follow bowling on Wednesday March 8th. Hopefully we will have a big crowd to send them on their way.
MEN’S MINOR SINGLES SEMI-FINAL SATURDAY 28th
The first of the semi-finals of the Men’s Minor Singles was held on Saturday. It was a very hot, humid day and a fairly constant northerly breeze kept the bowlers checking on what it was doing. In this game, which was staged on rink 9 of the Waratah Green, Chris Forrester took on Terry Norwood. Chris was sharper at the start and took three of the first four ends to lead 4 – 1. However a loose end from Chris saw Terry take the lead on the next end with a four shot haul. Perhaps it was the wind or the slightly slower green, but both bowlers on the early ends were having some difficulty getting the bowl on the jack. Chris held a two shot lead after eight ends only to see Terry find his touch and take the next four ends and a lead at 12 – 8. It was then that Chris found some very good form to take eight of the next nine ends. With the score at 21 – 15 in his favour, Chris was in control of the match. However, against expectation, the game turned as Terry took the next end with a three and followed up with a pair of twos. He was suddenly in front by a shot and continued on taking the next two ends and victory at 25 – 21. Although neither bowler was at his peak, it was a tough encounter on an energy sapping day. Terry now moves on to the final on February 11th against the winner of the semi-final between Steven Goddard and Bob Crowley.
SOCIAL BOWLS
Four games of social bowls were needed to accommodate the eighteen bowlers who’d turned out on the hot afternoon. There were three games of pairs and one of triples.
In the triples match, Keith Edwards, Owen Williams and Gordon Lewis took on Peter Cornwell, Harold Wall and Tony Oakes. And what an astonishing game this was! Tony’s team, with an avalanche of points, won the first seven ends and led 15 – 0! Although Gordon and his men got on the score-card, the dominance of team Oakes continued. The final score in their favour was 30 – 9.
Tony Oakes was in great form!
In the match on rink 7, the Denmans, Richard and Graham battled against Graham Hartnup and Mick Flynn. Although Mick and Graham won the first three ends it wasn’t long before the Denmans got themselves onto the score-card. However, a massive six shot haul on the eighth end put team Flynn in the ascendency. Fourteen shots down, the Denmans fired up and won six of the last seven ends. It still wasn’t enough to close the gap as Mick and Graham ran out 25 – 16 winners.
The Mick Flynn delivery!
In a pairs game on rink 11, Steve Della and Carl Spilker took on Terry Butt and Nathan Boyers. With bragging rights hanging on the result, this match was always going to be keenly fought. Terry and Nathan won four of the first seven ends and had their noses in front at 7 – 3. Steve and Carl then hit back with a massive 5 on the next end and took the lead. Team Boyers then steadied, won three ends and led 13 – 9. With plenty of chat and encouragement, Steve and Carl won four ends on the trot to hold a commanding lead of 20 – 13. Far from done, Terry and Nathan won four of the remaining ends only to fall short by three. The final score was 22 – 19 to Steve and Carl.
Carl Spilker sends one down!
In the final pairs game, Barry Werfel and Jim Starkey battled it out against Ian Crow and Dave Coltman. This turned out to be basically a game of two halves. Both teams got on the score-card early, but it was Ian and Dave who score heavily in the first half. They outscored their opponents and led 14 – 7 after ten ends. And when the led 16 – 8 after 14 ends, they looked to have the upper hand. However, Barry and Jim score a couple of threes and a massive six on the seventeenth end suddenly had them in front by four shots. Barry and Jim then held on to run out winners 23 – 19.
The Jim Starkey delivery!