BOWLS NEWS SATURDAY & SUNDAY MARCH 4th/5th (Terry Norwood reporting)
General Information
- Bowlers are reminded that the funeral of Brian Porter will be held on Wednesday March 8th. A private service will be held in Bevan’s chapel at 11.30, and this will be streamed through to the Bowling Club dining room for those wishing to be present. A memorial service will then be held at the Bowling Club at 12.30pm, to be followed by a wake.
- Obviously, with bowlers attending the memorial service and the wake, the commencement and running of social bowls will be affected. The match committee will adjust the arrangements for social bowls to fit in with what is happening. It is likely that social bowls will start at around 1.30 and run for a shortened number of ends. Bowlers might like to wear the blue bowls uniform as a mark of respect to Brian.
- Bowlers are reminded also that Wednesday 8th March is the send-off for Lawrence and Carol Vipond. The ‘ceremony’, such as it will be, will follow whatever social bowls we are able to fit in after the service/wake for Brian Porter.
- Members are reminded that Keith Scriven celebrated his 90th birthday on March 2nd and joined that illustrious band of nonagenarians we have. Hopefully, Keith will be in attendance on Wednesday and we’ll be able to wish him well.
- The Men’s Major Triples Championship will draw to a close on the morning of next Sunday March 12th when the final takes place at 10am. This should be a red-hot match with Carl Spilker, Mick Anderson and skipper Nathan Boyers taking on Stephen Della, Steven Goddard and Dugald Braithwaite. It will certainly be worth a look!
Pennants
With the grade two pennants team having a bye, all attention this Saturday was on the grade six team which travelled to take on the Robertson twelve. The weather in Robertson was overcast to begin with, but as the day progressed it turned into a very pleasant afternoon. There was a bit of a breeze at the start but, once bowlers became accustomed to the different green, there were no real excuses for any wayward bowls. Robertson may be a small club, but it has some very good bowlers amongst their number.
In the game on rink 3, Elizabeth Hall, Reta South, Terry Norwood and skipper Bob Crowley did battle against the Robbo four led by Robertson newcomer Keith Pepper. Robertson opened with three shots on the first end and by the sixth end had set up a lead of 8 – 2. However, the Bowral bowlers then found touch to win the next four ends and level the score at 8 – 8. Ends were very tight from that point so that Robbo led by 12 – 10 after fifteen. Bowral then had a very good run, so that with two ends to play they led 15 – 12. Disaster then struck, as on the 20th end no Bowral bowler could get a shot in the head, and they conceded a six! Despite pulling back two shots on the last end victory went to Robertson by 18 – 17.
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Skipper Bob Crowley!
On rink 2, the Bowral side comprised Noel Fraser, Peter Cornwell, Graham Hunt and skipper Dave Coltman. Again, Robertson got the better of the early ends and raced out to a 9 – 3 lead after six ends. The Bowral bowlers then hit their straps winning four of the next five ends and taking the lead by a shot at 12 – 11. Robertson took the next four ends and, at the fifteenth, held a five shot lead. With Dave inspiring his team, Bowral came back so that with one end remaining, they were right in the game at 17 – 19 down. Unfortunately for Bowral, Robbo took two shots on the last end and victory at 21 – 17.
Skipper Dave Coltman!
In the final game on rink 1, Gordon Lewis, Ian Crow, Gail Fraser and new skipper Tony Oakes did battle against the Robertson four skippered by that redoubtable figure Noel Arton. With Tony barking out clear instructions, the Bowral four had the better of the opening ends and set up a lead of 8 – 3 after five. Robertson, also with plenty of chat from Noel and Tutty, steadied and by the tenth end had reduced the Bowral lead to 3 shots. With all bowlers contributing well, Bowral had regained the five shot lead by the fifteenth end. From that point, with Tony in control, they held on to gain Bowral’s first victory at 20 – 17.
Skipper Tony Oakes!
Overall, Robertson won the match and took 9 competition points to the 1 for Bowral. With only one point from a possible twenty in these first two rounds, the overall Bowral team seems a bit shaky. It will be interesting to see what the selectors think for the next round.
Men’s Major Triples Championship
The second semi-final of the Men’s Major Triples took place on the morning of Sunday 5th March. This game saw the wily trio of Mick Anderson, Carl Spilker and skipper Nathan Boyers up against first time trio of Peter Cornwell, Ian Crow and skipper Tony Oakes. Although Peter, Ian and Tony took a shot on the first end, they were soon under pressure being down 7 – 1 after four. They steadied however, and by the eighth end they were behind by only two shots at 8 – 6. With both teams playing some very good bowls the scores were then locked at 12 all after thirteen ends. It was at this point in the game that Mick, Carl and Nathan showed their superiority and they went out to a five shot lead after 18 ends. They then hit a purple patch to put the game well out of the reach of their opponents by amassing thirteen shots in three ends! When time was called, Mick, Carl and Nathan were ahead by 37 – 16, a very decisive victory. They now advance to the final where they will do battle against Stephen Della, Steven Goddard and Dugald Braithwaite. May both sides have the best of good fortune!
The victors, Carl Spilker, Mick Anderson and Nathan Boyers!
The vanquished, Peter Cornwell, Ian Crowe and Tony Oakes!