SOCIAL BOWLS WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 12th
Despite some fairly unfavourable forecasts, the weather gods waved a kind hand over Bowral yesterday and saw that the day remained free from rain. This was a blessing given that the previous week’s bowling had been cancelled due to drenched greens.
Because little rain had fallen for several days, the Lewis Green was considered suitable for play for the first time in many weeks. Consequently, three of the six matches were assigned to that green with the remainder set down for the synthetic Waratah Green. Thirty-two bowlers had turned up for play, obviously very keen to roll some down after having missed out the previous week.
The first of the games on the Waratah Green was the usual 18 end challenge between team Cummins and team Rubie. Laurence Vipond, Bill Meredith and skipper John Cummins vied for bragging rights against Kel Limbrick, Bill Pope and Paul Rubie, and the card told the story! After losing the first two ends, Bill Meredith (back after a long break; great to see you Bill) got the mat and threw short ends to great success. With no luck going the way of team Rubie, and with Mr Meredith bowling especially well team Cummins won the next eleven ends to take a huge lead 20 – 2. Finally getting the mat, Bill Pope went long and team Rubie outscored their opponents over the last five ends. The sweet taste of victory however went to John and his boys by 22 – 9. There’s always next week Paul!
The winning Cummins style! Laurence lets one go!
In another eighteen-end match on the Waratah, Harvey Harwood, Joel Hunt and skipper Harold Wall took on Barry Werfel, Col Stone and the amiable Joe O’Donnell. The two sides got on the scorecard early and seemed quite evenly matched. However a couple of three shot ends saw team Wall take a handy lead which they extended to six shots by the halfway point. Joe and his boys then worked their way back into the match, and the turning point came on the thirteenth end when they netted a game-changing 5 shots! At that stage they took the lead, a lead they were not to surrender despite tight closing ends. The final score in favour of team O’Donnell of 16 – 15 was indicative of a hard-fought match.
Harold all concentration! Joe gets one down with style!
In the final match on the Waratah Green, Denis Lees, Neville Tanner and skipper Mick Flynn were pitted against Graham Hartnup, Paul McInerney and Owen Williams. And what a game of two halve this turned out to be! Despite losing the first two ends, team Flynn won nine of the next ten ends to set up a massive lead of 16 – 4! However a four shot haul on the thirteenth end began the comeback by Owen and his lads. By the seventeenth end they had reduced the lead to one shot, and two ends later were all square. Under pressure, the wily Mick then trailed the jack into the ditch on the 20th end and ensured a two shot lead going into the last end. In a tight finish, team Flynn conceded only one shot and so took out victory 21 – 20.
Graham Hartnup on the mat! The Owen Williams release!
In the first of the games on the Lewis Green, Don Coleman and skipper Jim Starkey took on Ian Crow and Bundy boy Steve Day. On this very tricky, slow-running green, Ian and Steve made the much better start. They won seven of the first eight ends and set up a handy lead of 11 – 4. Don and Jim then found some better touch winning four of the next five ends. However, by the seventeenth end they found themselves in arrears by eight shots. Despite conceding a couple of three-shot ends, Ian and Steve closed out the game to win 23 – 18. In the end, this was a fairly decisive win with Steve and Ian winning thirteen of the twenty-one ends.
Don Coleman puts one down! Ian releases a trusty red!
In the match on rink 16 of the Lewis Green, Terry Norwood, Graham Hunt and the ebullient skipper Bob Crowley battled against Julie Hayden, Steve Goddard and the methodical Robin Staples. And what a massacre this battle turned out to be! From the five shot haul on the first end to the eye-watering seven shot wipe-out on the eighteenth, team Staples absolutely dominated their opponents. Julie, Steve and Robin each out-bowled their opposite number with excellently controlled draw bowling. Skipper Robin was in exquisite form: if his team was holding shots, he always added to the score; if they were down shots, he turned most ends into wins. In the end, team Staples won sixteen of the twenty-one ends, and the final score of 41 – 10 probably flattered the losers. It was a comprehensive victory, and Julie, Steve and Robin are congratulated on their excellent bowling.
The elegant style of Julie Hayden!
In the final match on the Lewis Green, Gordon Lewis and Peter Morales took on Chris Forrester and Bob Edwards. With these wily, battle-scarred warriors butting heads this was expected to be a game that would go down to the wire. Chris and Bob got slightly the better of the early ends but when they conceded three shots on the fifth end they found themselves down by one 5 – 4. With their usual determination, Gordon and Peter then ground themselves to a six shot lead by the ninth end. However, with their fighting qualities coming to the fore Chris and Bob then worked their magic and by the fifteenth end had closed the gap to a single shot. Peter and Gordon then dug deep to steady the ship and take five of the last six ends. The final score in their favour was 19 – 14.
Peter Morales magic! Mr Reliable Gordon Lewis!
OTHER NEWS
The semi-finals and final of the Mens Major Singles Championship will be held next Saturday 22nd October. The two semi-finals will take place at 10.30 in the morning with the victors meeting in the final in the afternoon. All members are encouraged to make the trek to the club to view at least part of what should be enthralling matches. The semi-final matches are
Ashley Lewis Vs Noel Fraser
Dugald Braithwaite Vs Alastair McGhee
The Mens Major Four Championship will commence on Saturday 22nd October. Again, these will be highly competitive matches and should make for good viewing.
In Club News, the AGM of the Mens Match Committee will be held at 11.00am on Saturday 29th October. Nominations are being sought so that a solid group is available to help with the running of all the events that bowlers participate in. Nomination forms can be found near the entrance to the Club where visitors sign in.