BBC BROADCAST SATURDAY NOVEMBER 1st (Terry Norwood at the desk)
Some bits and bobs to chew on for a start:
- The draw for the Minor Singles Competition has now been completed and will be posted on the notice board on Tuesday November 4th. Given the number of entrants, there are four first round matches and these are set down for Saturday November 8th. Keep in mind, however, that by arrangement, games may be played on other days; they just need to be played prior to the dates of the next round matches, which, in this case, is the 15th of November.
- The Men’s Bowls Committee executive met on the 29th and the draft minutes of that meeting will be posted on the notice board on Tuesday.
- Committee member Ian Duncan has been hard at work for many months approaching local businesses to see if they are interested in sponsorship and this finally this seems to be delivering. One business is close to signing, so keep your hearing tuned for an announcement in the near future.
- The surface of the Wilson Green continues to improve and the recent rain is certain to help. However, with the north and south boundaries of the green being slower to respond to recent treatment, the decision has been made to play east-west in the short term. So bowlers, when practising, please ensure that you roll east-west to give those worn boundaries some time to recover.
- Social bowlers are reminded that the cut-off time to have names in for play is 11.30 on the day of the event. However, if you have missed the time, feel free to phone in to see if there is a spot we need to fill.
- The first run of the ‘Spirit of Bowral FOSS Award’ in Sept/Oct was a huge success with Robin Staples being the inaugural Champ. So, Wednesday bowlers, be advised that the second run will commence on November 19th and will conclude on December 10th. You have to be in it to win it, so polish the bowls up for those four Wednesdays.
- Next Wednesday will also see the beginning of an additional draw, at no extra cost to bowlers, in the weekly raffle. The prize will be free bowling (except for the $1 jackpot contribution) claimable over the following couple of weeks. The draw will be made along with the usual jackpot and raffle draws at the end of the day, and the condition for winning will be that the winner has to be in the Club to win the prize! So bowlers, hang around after the game, have a drink and be in the draw for the $15 green fee prize.
- And for those who have not yet heard the news, Committee member Graham ‘leaning tower’ Hunt will be in New Zealand for much of December and unavailable for Committee duties!!
Saturday Social Bowls
Despite the forecast of storms, sixteen bowlers turned out on Saturday and managed a full game. In fact, it was a beautiful, spring afternoon providing fine bowling conditions, and any clouds that appeared were driven off quickly.
In a pairs game on rink 8 of the Waratah Green, Arnie ‘dickie knee’ Lenczuk and Ben Goff tried to stare down Graham ‘leaning tower’ Hunt and Al McGhee, and Ben and Arnie got off to a flyer leading 5 – 0 after two ends! Graham and Al made it onto the scorecard on the third, but by the ninth were 5 – 12 in arrears, and when they dropped an embarrassing five shotter on the eleventh, they were 11 shots behind. However, they immediately responded with a five of their own, followed up by taking over the lead and when they grabbed a SEVEN shotter on the eighteenth, they were on the way to victory. 28 – 24 was the final score which left Arnie scratching his head! Seven shots Arnie, where was ‘rosie’?! Ouch!
In a triples game on rink 10, Charles ‘morse’ Coode, Richard Denman and the cobbler Gordon Lewis battled against Graham Hartnup, Rowena Coode and Robin ‘maestro’ Staples, and Gordon’s team, with Charles leading well and Richard and Gordon edging their opponents, had the better of the early ends to lead 8 – 2 after six. However, Graham then started to get inside Charles, and Robin’s trio clawed their way back into the game. With a double on the fourteenth, they hit the lead, only to drop the next two ends and find themselves four shots adrift. And then the earthquake hit with team Lewis falling into a gaping hole, dropping 14 shots in three ends and losing their way! The couple of singles they salvaged on the last two ends were little comfort and they were left to smother the wounds in Hahn Lite! For the record, the final score in favour of Robin’s trio was 26 – 18!
On rink 9, Grahame ‘dragon’ Denman was swing lead for Owen Williams and the wily Bob Edwards on one hand and Ted ‘Mr Ed’ McPhee and Terry Norwood on the other, and Terry’s team had the better of the opening to lead 9 – 3 after five ends. With Ted in fine form, they then pushed this out to 12 – 4 after eight and looked to be bowling confidently. However, Bob’s team rallied to close the gap to 8 – 12, before team Norwood pushed it out to 8 – 16. And then Bob and Owen came good and with some excellent draw bowling, won four consecutive ends to move the score to 16 all. Game on! However, despite Bob’s team having the momentum, Terry’s team found a couple of fine draws to notch up a double, but then dropped a single on the twentieth for the score to be 18 – 17 with one to play. With it all to play for, team Norwood managed a couple of draws close to the jack on a tight end and staggered to a 20 – 17 victory. Sweet!