La Nina is certainly making itself felt, with plenty of wet weekends. The weekend of the 13th February was no exception. Not sure if it was actually raining in Campbelltown but could not have been too bad as the semi final and final of the Zone 5 Pairs was completed at this venue. For the second year running Bowral was represented, this year by Mick Spong and Mick Armstrong. They were pitted against M Hooker and L Fleming from Austral Eagles and unfortunately their run ended there as they lost 24-15. The final was won by the Hazelbrook pair of A Bielderman and D Hearns with a 19-15 win over the Austral pair. So more excellent results from Mick Spong and Mick Armstrong and Bowral still has Stephen Della and Kevin Stafford to play in the State Pairs Finals from 2020.
Robertson Bowling Club hosted a pennant trial with Bowral Grade 6 against Robertson and Bowral Grade 7 against Bundanoon Grade 7. This event was finalised at short notice so it was well done by the Bowls Coordinator to organize the teams and with two reserves. What was not so nice was the weather. The whole afternoon was played up in the clouds with drizzle grading to heavy drizzle. It was so cold that even though it was mid February the wood burning stove was lit in the Robertson Clubhouse after the games. In Grade 7 both Bowral and Bundanoon ended up with a total of 60 shots. Applying the pennant scoring system both Clubs would receive 3.5 points but as Bowral won two rinks they would end up with 5.5 points to Bundanoon 4.5 points. A win to Bowral! Brian Porter with Harold Wall, Rita South and Kevin Jones had a 20-18 win. Scores were after 5 ends, 5-3 to Bowral, 10 ends down 7-10 and back level at 15 all on end 15. Brian scored 5 shots to 3 over the final ends to win 20-18. C Neutze led his team to a 24-19 shot win with the aid of Andy Nelson, Glen Giese and Billy Meredith. Scores with the Bowral score first were 5/9-3, 10/15-11, 15/21-14 with final score 24-19. Alex Lamb, Kel Limbrick, Gordon Lewis with skip Bob Edwards lost 23-16. They were down 9 shots to nil after 5 ends and never recovered from this poor start.
Grade 6 did not fair as well as the Grade 7 with a “big board”score of Robertson 66 to Bowral 53. Bowral did win one rink with David Coltman skipping with Terry Norwood, Noel Fraser and Dennis Beatty. Bowral was up 5-4 after 5 ends and 10-7 after 10 ends. They trailed 13-14 at 15 ends and still trailed 17-18 at end 19. Five shots on the last two ends saw them turn the tables and win 22-18. Julie Hayden, Paul McInerney, Steve Day and Robin Staples lost 14-21. Very well led by Julie and Paul the Bowral team had plenty of bowls in the head but Robertson always seemed to have the answers and made full use of accurate drives to change the situation into their favour. Jim Neely with Andy Connors, Gail Fraser and Dave Nobel played in the third game. Seven shots away on the first end was not a good start but the team recovered all 7 shots over the next two ends. Score was still level at 9 all after six ends but from there onwards Robertson had the edge and went on to win 27-17. Despite the inclement weather a good work out and great to see Club selectors present and watching how our players performed.
Next Saturday 20th February 2021 is the Chris Benton Memorial Trophy which is also a four’s event so bowlers will have more practice in this format of the game. The Trophy is played with two games of ten ends.
Round One of the 2021 Pennant Season starts the following weekend, Saturday 27th February. Full programme is listed under the Pennants tag, but for your information Grade 2 are playing Wallacia Wildcats at Bowral, Grade 6 playing Teralga Tigers at Bowral and Grade 7 playing Bundanoon at Bundanoon. Chairman of the Selectors wished to pass on the message that the selected pennant teams for this round will be posted on the Club Notice Board by Thursday 18th February after the Committee Meeting on that evening. These selections will also be on this website under “Pennants”shortly after being published. Please remember to tick your names off if selected and available.