It was what you might call a Lewis Day on Wednesday  30th March 2022.  The Highlands had even more rain this week with the greens again flooded on Tuesday.  So play was back on the synthetic for matches on Wednesday.  Bob Crowley was in isolation with Covid in the family so his semi final against Glen Giese has been postponed.  The other semi final was Bob Edwards against Gordon Lewis and this match was as close as it gets.  Gordon started 8 shots to the better with his handicap.  Little between the players early in the match but Bob slowly nibbled away at Gordon’s  lead  and eventually drew level, 76 shots each after 17 ends.  Bob still with the ascendancy edged ahead and had a narrow 102-100 lead at 21 ends.  24 ends and all level on 116 shots.  Gordon ahead by 4 shots heading towards the finish but Bob came back and the score was again level on 146 each going into the final end. (unless each scored 5 shots).   Bob was closes to the jack for 4 points but Gordon had second, third and Fourth shots for 6 points and a win by the finest of margins (152-150).  That last end probably summed up the match.  Both played great bowls with Bob bowling some great bowls but Gordon just a whisker more consistent. Gordon will play the winner of Glen and Bob.

I understand Ashley Lewis was playing the Champion of Champions Singles at Campbelltown on Saturday so he elected to play his first round Handicap Singles on Wednesday against Kevin Stafford.   Ashley handicap 1, Kevin Stafford handicap  4 shots.  Ashley started the better and by end 8 the handicap was removed and score was level 6 all.  A really strong burst by Ashley saw him race away to a 23-8 lead at 20 ends.  Kevin’s turn to win a series of ends in a row and reduce the gap to 24-18 shots.  Ashley steadied and with  fairly even play Ashley was able to advance to the winning 31 shots while Kevin accumulated 24 shots.  A winning day for the Lewis family.

Do not have much information about the Zone 5 Singles competition as the website is no longer being updated.  Zone 5 seems to be relying  on Facebook which only gives members comments.  As I understand Ashley lost first round to a up and coming youngster.  The semi finals featured Glen Mitchell (Picton) versus Luke Grainger (Campbelltown) and Paul Faorlin (Blacktown Workers) versus Chris Couchman (Austral).   Couchman and Grainger won semi finals and final was won by Chris Couchman.  There was also apparently a runner up competition but Facebook comments did not seem to be in favour of this event.

So on to Saturday and not quite raining.  Synthetic of course.  Handicap Singles games be played with the addition of just 4 members playing social bowls.  Owen Williams and Peter Morales had a 3 shot win over Ian Crow and Gordon Lewis, 23-20 shots.  Forfeits from Bob Crowley (now with positive RATS test) and Carl Spilker  (transport failure).  Bob Edwards against Stephen Della and Josh Woodcock against Brian Porter both delayed a week.  So just three matches played.  Glen Giese continues his great form and easily overcame Clive Neutze 31-8 shots.  Peter Cornwall played well against Alastair McGhee but Alistair was the stronger.  Alistair with a good start removed his 2 shot handicap and moved to a 7-1 lead.  Peter closed the gap and took the lead on the 14th end 11-10 shots.  Peter held a slender lead 14-13 until the 18th end after which Alistair slowly pushed ahead to a 31-22 win.  Final game was Mick Flynn against Terry Norwood.  I do not have a copy of the card for this game but understand a win for Terry.  There should be more matches next Saturday in this event.

Sunday 4th April and Mixed Pairs semi final day.  Again no finer details of the games.  Jim Neely and Gail Fraser moved into the final for the second year running with a comfortable win over  Enid Brown and Alistair McGhee .  Tighter in the match between Julie Hayden with Kevin Stafford against Rita South and Nathan Boyers.  Julie/Kevin lead all the match but by a slender margin.  A fight back at the finish saw Rita/Nathan draw level on the 21st end.  An extra sudden death end required which was won by 2 shots by Julie/Kevin who will oppose Jim and Gail next Sunday.

Aside from bowls, having been down to the Club to take photos of the Mixed Pairs I noticed that the Sunday Roasts are back on the menu for the weekends.  Came back with my wife but missed out on the roast as we were too late ordering.  Food was great anyway.  A recommended Sunday afternoon of roast dinner with a view over the two immaculate unplayable grass greens to Mount Gibraltar.   Hive of activity on the synthetic with the moment play finished in the Mixed Pairs the croquet players setting up the green.  Ended up with the croquet players playing in the North West quadrant and bare foot bowlers playing in the South West Quadrant with one roll up North South and one East West.  Great utilization.