BOWRAL BOWLING FEBRUARY WEDNESDAY 8th (Terry Norwood reporting)
Some information to begin with:
- The final of the Men’s Minor Singles Competition was staged on Wednesday. For the match report see below.
- On this coming Saturday the 11th, we will have visitors from other clubs in the zone. Bowral Club is hosting four rinks of bowlers who will be taking part in zone competitions.
- Also on Saturday will be two trial games for aspiring pennants players within the Bowral Club. As a matter of some urgency, selected players are asked to indicate their availability so that the teams can be finalised.
- Because of the zone and pennant trial games, there will be no rinks available for social bowls on Saturday 11th February on the Waratah Green. Anyone wishing to play social bowls will need to use the Wilson Green.
- Starting at 10am, the Men’s Major Triples will get underway on Sunday 12th February. The three games scheduled for play should provide some great bowls for anyone wishing to have a look.
- It’s a month away yet, but Wednesday bowlers are reminded of the sendoff for Lawrence and Carol Vipond on Wednesday March 8th. The Men’s Committee is hoping that the huge majority of the Wednesday group can get along and help send Lawrence and Carol on their way back to the UK.
- And a happy 80th birthday to the man in black Arnold Lenczuk! Octogenarian sound like a disease Arnie, but I’m assured it’s not!
MEN’S MINOR SINGLES FINAL
On rink 9 of the Waratah Green, the final between Steven Goddard and Terry Norwood got underway at 12.30. With Chris Forrester as marker, Steven won the toss and elected to take the mat. This was a wise choice it seems as he won the first three ends and took a four shot lead. Drawing very well, Steve continued to dominate and, after eight ends, led 7 – 4. It was then that Terry found his touch and took the next three ends to level the score. With both now bowling very well, especially with the last bowl when under pressure, the scores advanced to 11 all after sixteen ends. Two ends later, Terry took the lead for the first time at 13 – 12. He then threw a very short end hoping to catch Steven off guard, but the strategy blew up in his face as Steven scored a full house of four shots and charged back into the lead. Steven moved on to lead 17 – 13, but three ends later Terry had fought back to trail by a single shot at 17 – 16. Two ends later Steven had again pushed his lead out, this time to five shots, but again Terry won a couple of ends to reduce the lead to 21 – 19. The next end proved crucial! With Terry holding three shots all within fifteen inches of the jack, Steven played the shot of the day with a perfect draw of the final shot to win the end. From a possible 22 – 21 down, he was 22 – 19 up! With his tail up and the gloomy weather of no concern, Steven put down four excellent draw shots to surround the jack on the next end. Terry’s weighted final shot was wide and the match was suddenly over. Congratulations to Steven on victory in an excellent game, the final score being 25 – 19.
Steven Goddard the victor! Terry Norwood the vanquished!
SOCIAL BOWLS
Despite the overcast, humid weather, twenty-six very keen bowlers elected to take part in social bowls. Because of the numbers, there were three games of triples and two of pairs.
In the customary 18-ender on rink 7, Keith Edwards, Lawrence Vipond and skipper, the teenager John Cummins, battled for bragging rights against Michael Hook, Bill Pope and Paul Rubie. And this game turned out to be the battle of the long ends versus the short ends: Team Rubie ruled the short ends and team Cummins the long! So, dominating the short ends Paul and his men raced out to a lead of 10 – 3 after six ends. John’s team then got the jack, lengthened the ends and took the lead 13 – 11 after eleven ends. From this point they were never headed and they charged away to win the match 23 – 13. And a win in the raffle rounded off a great day for John!
In a pairs match on rink 8, Glenn Giese and Gordon Lewis took on Graham Hunt and skipper Mick Flynn. Largely due to a four shot end, Graham and Mick led 5 – 2 after three ends, only to see Gordon and Glenn win the next five ends. Down by 6 shots, Graham and Mick charged back at the opposition winning the next three ends and taking the lead 12 – 11. Their run then fizzled however, as Glenn and Gordon dominated the second half of the match to run out seven shot winners 28 – 21. There were some heavy scoring ends in this game with 2 fives, 2 fours and 4 threes!
In another pairs game on rink 10, Barry Werfel and skipper Clive Neutze went head to head against Graham Hartnup and Tony Oakes. Contrary to the match committee’s expectation, this match didn’t turn out to be a close one. Clive and Barry got off to the better start and they were never headed in the game. They led 6 – 1 after five ends, 16 – 4 after eleven and 23 – 9 after seventeen. Overall, Clive and Barry won thirteen ends to eight by Graham and Tony, and the final score in their favour was 25 – 13. Clive is certainly in fine touch at the moment.
In a triples match Wal Markow, Viv Gear and skipper Owen Williams took on Graham Denman, Richard Denman and skipper Harold Wall. And this was another game that unexpectedly turned out to be quite one-sided. Team Wall made a good start to lead 6 – 3 after five ends. Owen and his men then slowly pegged them back so that the scores were 7 – 7 after ten ends. By virtue of a three, Harold’s team led 11 – 8 after thirteen ends, but it was then that Owen’s team became dominant. They won seven of the last eight ends to run away and win the game 24 – 12.
In the final triples game, Arnold Lenczuk, Neville Tanner and skipper Ian Crow battled against Paul McInerney, Joe O’Donnell and Don Coleman. This turned out to be a game fairly much of two different halves. Ian’s team dominated the opening and roared away to a breathtaking 15 – 2 lead after ten ends. They certainly had their opponents reaching for the oxygen at that stage! And at 21 – 5 after fifteen ends the ambulance was on standby! Maybe it was the cool change that descended from the heavens, but Paul, Joe and Don were suddenly stung into action. In a Herculean effort, they won five of the last six ends and had the leaders staggering to the finish line. The final score in favour of Ian’s team was a modest 22 – 16!