BBC ROOKIE FINAL SPECIAL BROADCAST         (Terry Norwood at the desk)

Sunday July 13th saw the staging of the final of the Club Rookies Competition where Mark Barrow went into battle against Denis Lees. Both had been very impressive in their respective semis, each winning comfortably by 25 – 12, so the final was expected to be a genuinely tough contest.

It was a typical Bowral morning as Denis and Mark took to the Waratah Green, very cold indeed. Play was set down on rink 10 close to the centre of the green.

Denis notched up a shot on the first end, but Mark was quickly into stride with a three shotter on the second and led 4 – 1 after three ends. Denis replied with a three, but Mark then ran together three successful ends to push the score out to 10 – 4 after seven ends. Denis, a quiet achiever, then hit his straps and a full house of four shots, followed by a double, had him in front 12 – 11 by the eleventh. Shaking off the loss of a four shotter, Mark regained the lead with a single and a very welcome three, but his lead at 15 – 12 was to be momentary as it turned out, because Denis then took control of the match from that point. Repeating the fine drawing of the semi-final against Barb Wainberg, Denis dominated, won the next six ends and secured the competition 25 – 15. Mark put down some fine bowls but in the end Denis managed to draw inside him and was just too consistent. Congratulations Denis Lees!!

Rookie Champ, Denis Lees, on the mat and clutching the winner’s trophy!