The weekend of the 11/12th December was another busy one at Bowral Bowling Club.   The Bowral Bowling Club Championship Fours, sponsored by BOQ, was played on Saturday afternoon.  Strong favourites was the Mick Spong team. Featuring Ashley Lewis, current Club Champion, as lead and three regular skippers from grade 11 in Josh Woodcock, Mick Armstrong and Mick Spong.  The two Micks and Ashley were all Club scratch players when we used to have handicaps.  A formidable team.  The opposition was Robin Staples from grade 6.  Ken Handley substituting for Mike Holmewood and Carl Spilker.  Ken, while he has claimed many titles including Club Pairs Champion, has not laid hands on a bowl for two years. The strength of the team lay in Nathan Boyers, an established grade 11 player, and the undoubted talent of Mick Anderson the skipper.

The Anderson team won the first end with a single shot.  They also scored single shots on end 6 and 8.  The Spong team won 7 of the first 10 ends and amassed 15 shots so that at end 10 the score was Spong 15 and Anderson 3 shots.  The Spong team had only lost 8 and 6 shots on their two previous games and it looked rather as if a similar result would be achieved.  On end 11 a brilliant shot from Mick Anderson cleared out the only close Spong bowl and resulted in 5 shots.  Adding a 3 and a 2 shot score over the next two ends made the score Anderson 13 and Spong 15 shots. A much closer score and maybe an upset was not impossible.  Momentum swung back to Spong with a 2 shot end followed by another brilliant shot by Spong, similar to the Anderson shot, in which the only close opposition bowls was removed and a 5 shot score.  With the score now 22-15 in favour of Spong it would be expected that they cruise on to victory.  Not quite that easy as Anderson  scored 8 shots to 1 shot over the next 5 ends so that at 20 ends Anderson trailed by 2 shots at 21-23.  Last end and the Anderson team needed 2 shots to tie and 3 to win.  Ashley lead off with a bowl on the jack.  More close bowls and some movement of the jack meant that as the skippers readied to play the jack was clear of any bowl closer than a couple of feet.  Andersons first bowl was a beauty and close enough to be shot.  Spongs first bowl was a little short and Anderson took advantage to draw another bowl for two shots and a tie.  One last bowl to come and Mick Spong changed hands and steady as a rock drew second shot to give his team a one shot win 23-22. An excellent win from the dominant team in the competition but at least they were made to fight for their victory in the final.

Also on Saturday the initial rounds of a new competition were held.  In these days of political correctness it was deemed unfair to those under 60 not to have a competition when those over 60 had a competition. If the over 60s are Senior Singles I suppose the under 60’s are Junior Singles.  To go with a new event, a new format with two sets of nine ends and a single end tie breaker if required and a double score power play available per set.  Means that the game can be over in two ends if the power play is successfully invoked.  Unfortunately for her, Alex Lamb came close losing 10-0 in three ends in the first set.  Much closer in the second set with the match to Chris Forrester with Alex only going down 7-9.  Second match on Saturday was Bob Crowley against Andy Connor.  A closer and longer game with Bob winning both sets 9-5 and 9-7 shots.    The officials, seeing that the games were lasting less than an hour decided to play quarter, semi and final on Sunday.

First quarter final, Chris Forrester played Bob Crowley.  A good win for Chris as Bob has already reached the Club Championship Singles final.  Maybe having a couple of teeth out prior to the weekend did not help Bob.  First set Chris 9-5 and second set 11-1.   Quarter two, Glynn Phillips and Terry Butt.  A tight first set went the way of Glynn 9-7 and the second a very rapid three end game to Glynn 9-0.  Josh Woodcock moved into the semi final unopposed as Carl Spilker  being unvaccinated was not present.  Final Quarter final Nathan Boyers and Stephen Della.  With Nathan on form after playing very well in the Four’s a tight game was expected.  Certainly the first set was very tight with a mere one shot the difference, Stephen 9 and Nathan 8 shots.  A little easier for Stephen in the second set 9-6 shots.

Semi final one with Chris Forrester up against Glynn Phillips.  Experience pays and Glynn was too strong, but a great tournament from Chris.  Score was set one 9-4 and set two 9-6 both in favour of Glynn.  The bottom half of the draw held strong players and Stephen Della was up against Josh Woodcock.  A close high quality game  with Josh winning the first set  9-7 and Stephen the second comfortably 9-2.  Into a one end tie breaker and Stephen prevailed one shot to nil.  The final followed straight away with Glynn Phillips against Stephen.  Once again some great bowls with Glynn coming back into great form after his multi years lay off.  First set to Glynn 9-5.  Always a fierce competitor Stephen Della was certain to fight back and this he did winning the second set 9-3.  A fitting end to a very tight game to go into a tie breaker.  Score was 2-0 and the Champion was Glynn Phillips.  Congratulations.

I am going to take a Christmas break until the New Year.  If I receive a report on next weeks   Christmas present pairs I will post but otherwise will take that break.  So all the best to everyone and have a  wonderful Christmas and New Year.