BOWLING NEWS WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 1st (Terry Norwood reporting)
Some information to begin with:
- The Chris Benton Memorial event will be staged on Saturday February 4th. The proceeds from this day will be donated to brain cancer charity. The day will commence with the customary ‘spider’ (all bowlers around the perimeter of the green bowling at the jack in the centre) with the closest to the jack taking the first prize of the day. All bowlers are asked to wear the blue club uniform as a tribute to Chris as one of the Club’s original sponsors.
- The final of the Men’s Minor Singles Competition has, by agreement, been brought forward to next Wednesday February 8th. This has been done to avoid any clashes with Pennant team trial matches.
- Trial matches for prospective Pennants teams will commence on Saturday February 11th with the grade 6 bowlers in action against Robertson. The following week, games will be staged for both grade 2 and grade 6. These games will all be played at Bowral. Bowlers will need to keep an eye on the notice board to take note of the teams.
MEN’S MINOR SINGLES SEMI-FINAL
The second of the semi-finals in the Men’s Minor Singles Competition was played on Wednesday. This match, which was played on rink 8 of the Waratah Green, featured Bob Crowley and Steven Goddard. Graham Hunt was the marker for what was expected to be a titanic struggle between these two very fine bowlers. As it happened, Bob got away to an excellent start and won the first eight ends! With a lead of 12 – 0, he really had Steven under pressure. And, although Steven then got himself onto the score-card winning a couple of ends, Bob still held a twelve shot lead at 16 – 4. It was then that Steven found better form and worked his way back into the match. After twenty-one ends, he had reduced the lead to five at 19 – 14, and two ends later had it down to three at 21 – 18. Steven was now out-drawing Bob and four ends later hit the lead for the first time at 23 – 22. The next end was crucial; with Bob holding two shots (one only inches from the jack) Steven played the perfect draw to win the end. Steven then scored the required two shots for victory (25 – 22) on the next end. It was indeed a titanic struggle! Steven now advances to the final next Wednesday against Terry Norwood.
Steven advances to the final after come from behind win!
SOCIAL BOWLS
Thirty-six bowlers participated in the social bowls on what was a near perfect day to be on the green. Although there was quite some humidity about, the breeze from the north-east kept the conditions pleasant. Because of the numbers, all matches were triples.
In the customary 18-ender on rink 7, John Cummins was back in the saddle to lead Kel Limbrick and Bill Pope against John Fleming, Lawrence Vipond and skipper Paul Rubie. The two ninety year olds, Kel and Bill, and the ‘teenager’, John, got off to a very good start and didn’t take the foot off the peddle. With six ends to go, Kel had to be subbed out and, with Carol Vipond as replacement, the carnage continued. The final score in favour of team Cummins was a stunning 28 – 13.
The ‘teenager’ on the mat!
On rink 9, Denis Lees, Ian Crow and skipper Gordon Lewis played Viv Gear, Owen Williams and Peter Morales. Although Gordon’s team lost the first two ends, they soon settled into form and took the lead. Scores were close until team Lewis netted an astonishing 6 on the tenth end to jump to a 15 – 7 lead. And, although Peter’s team outscored them in the second half of the game, Gordon and his men held on to win by three shots 21 – 18. Peter’s team must have been ruing that 6 they gave up on the tenth end.
The game on rink 10 was also a close encounter when Keith Edwards, Joe O’Donnell and skipper Clive Neutze were pitted against Joel Hunt, Tony Oakes and Don Chapman. In fact, this game was decided on the very last end. With both teams on the board early, the scores were locked at 4 – 4 after seven ends. Then, although Clive’s team had taken a lead, the scores were again locked at 11 all, 13 all and, finally 16 all with the last end to play. With the pressure on, Clive and his men came through with a three shot haul to take the match 19 – 16. A ripper of a game!
Clive’s in very good form!
Rink 11 saw the closest game of the day when Keith Scriven, Neville Tanner and skipper Chris Forrester battled it out against Barry Werfel, Glenn Giese and Steve Day. Chris’ team got the better of the early ends and led 9 – 4 after seven ends. With plenty of chat and encouragement, Steve rallied his team and they worked their way up the score-card. After twelve ends they were trailing by only two at 10 – 8, and with a three shot haul on the fifteenth end they hit the lead at 12 – 11. With the scores level again after eighteen ends, this game had become a real nail-biter. Winning two of the last three ends, team Day finally came out on top 15 – 14. Another ripper of a game!
Steve’s team won a close one!
In the triples match on rink 12, Harold Wall, Don Coleman and skipper Mike Holmewood did battle against Wal Marko, Richard Denman and Mick Flynn. Team Flynn won three of the first four ends to hold a two shot lead at 5 – 3. With all bowlers chipping in to good effect, the score-card moved along fairly evenly to be 9 – 8 to Mike and his men at the halfway point. It was then that a change came over the game. Team Holmewood bowlers more consistently were getting shots in the head and they took control of the game. Winning seven of the last ten ends, Mike’s team went on to a comfortable victory 22 – 11.
Wal Markow had some good ends as lead!
On the outside rink, Graham Denman, Arnold Lenczuk and skipper Terry Norwood took on Phillip Payne, Graham Hartnup and skipper Bob Edwards. Both teams got on the score-card early and there was only one shot difference after five ends. It was then that team Norwood showed the better form and moved out to a 10 – 5 lead after eleven ends. A run of six consecutive winning ends then saw Terry’s team comfortably in the lead. When time was called after eighteen ends, the score in favour of team Norwood was 25 – 6.
Arnold Lenczuk was back on the green after his foot operation!