BBC BROADCAST SATURDAY MAY 2nd           (Terry Norwood at the desk)

Grade Six

Bowral played host to the team from Bargo under hazy sky and with cool temperature. Prior to the match, Bowral was holding down third position on the competition ladder with Bargo running fourth.

On rink 2, Noel Fraser,  Jim Neely, Oscar Whalin and Ash Lewis made a strong start to lead 7 – 1 after four ends, and then pushed this out to 14 – 4 by the ninth. Bargo then moved the score to 14 – 9, before Ash and the boys played some fine bowls to shift it to 22 – 12. From there, Ash was not going to let this one get away and Bowral ran out comfortable winners at 24 – 15.

In the game on rink 3, Ross Barber, Peter Flight, Dave Coltman and Al McGhee also made a very solid start to be 8 – 1 to the good after six ends and then 18 – 2 after thirteen. All Bowral bowlers were shading their opposite which then exploded into a full house of eight shots on the fifteenth!! A five shotter was nabbed a couple of ends later, and Bowral ran out comfortable victors at 32 – 13.

In the third game, Mick Fisher, Dennis Beatty, Peter Martin and Dugald Braithwaite lost four of the first six ends to trail 7 – 11, but then won the following eight ends on the trot to lead 23 – 11. They then dropped a single before pocketing thirteen shots over the remaining ends to finish very comfortable winners at 36 – 15. It was a dominant performance winning fifteen of the twenty-one ends.

Overall then, this was a very successful day with Bowral collecting all 10 competition points and improving the points average considerably. Bowral remains in third position on the competition ladder, but with two round to play, is still in touch with the leading team. Big wins in the final two matches will be needed for Bowral to stay in the hunt.

Grade Seven

The Bowral Grade Seven team travelled to Picton to take on the locals in a must win match if Bowral was to stay in the hunt to win the section.

In the first game, Ted McPhee, Ian Duncan, Reta South and Bob Edwards lost three of the first four ends to be 2 – 4, but then won the next five ends to have breathing space at 13 – 4. Their lead was then reduced by a couple of shots until their authority on the game returned. Well into the back half and 29 – 12 to the good, Bob’s group then dropped the last couple of ends but made it home at 29 – 15. All bowled well for Bowral with Ted keeping the team on the jack.

In the next game, Arnie Lenczuk, Lynne Boshier, Gordon Lewis and Chris Forrester were down 1 – 3 early but then launched an assault that put them 13 – 3 to the good. However, this became 13 – 8 and the Bowral four then found themselves locked in a tight battle. Although they kept their noses in front, they were unable to completely shake off the foe. However, a double on the twentieth gave them breathing space, and they made it home three to the good 21 – 18.

In the last of the games, Graham Hunt, Ricci Wilson, Terry Norwood and Robin Staples made a fine start to be 11 – 1 ahead after the first six ends and then by the eleventh were 15 – 4 to the good. With Graham having a fine game at lead, and Robin in super form, their dominance continued into the second half. Singles were the major result, as they continued to get the better of their opposites on the run home, and the final score was 26 – 6.

Overall then, it was an excellent day for the Bowral team as they snaffled all 10 competition points and advanced the team’s standing on the ladder. Now running second and just 10 points behind leaders Camden RSL, Bowral is close enough to make the final two rounds very interesting. The next round will see Bowral host Camden RSL, an encounter which will have a huge bearing on the section outcome. Bowls in the head boys and girls!!!