Good progress has been made with the three Bowral Bowling Club events that are underway. To start, the Consistency Singles played the Quarter Finals Round on Wednesday 23 March 2022. The four matches were played on the grass green which is a little unusual to change surfaces during a competition. Two of the matches were straight forward wins while the other two were nail biters. Bob Edwards had a comfortable win over Graham Hunt. Bob started four shots behind and took 10 ends to remove the deficit at which stage he lead 51-45. He then scored the better to run out winner 150-105. Likewise Gordon Lewis had no problems defeating Robin Staples by playing the better bowls throughout the match. Starting 20 shots behind Robin was still 20 shots behind after 9 ends with Gordon Leading 40-20. Robin did close the gap to 10 shots at 14 ends with the score 50-60 shots. Gordon playing really well surged ahead to lead 116-84 before a small challenge from Robin closed the score to 120-130. Gordon won the last three ends for a well deserved 150-130 win. The first of the close matches was Viv Gear against Bob Crowley. Bob also started 20 shots behind. Up to end 20 Viv was the dominant player and at this stage lead 105-75 having added another 10 shots to his handicap start. Bob scored 9-1 next end and this was the start of his surge to remove Grahams lead. At end 29 Bob had draw level 135 shots each. 7 shots to 3 shots to Bob next end and he held this advantage to the finish to win by the narrow margin of 152-148. The last match and another close score was Mick Flynn against Glen Giese. Somehow Mick has won himself a 14 handicap so Glen had to start 8 shots behind. No problem as Glen score a 9-1 first end and handicap removed. The match now proceeded with never more than a few of shots difference in the score. Level at 116 all after 23 ends and the score difference never more than 6 shots. The game turned on the 28th end with Glen scoring a perfect 10 to take a small lead all the way to the finish winning 153-149. Semi Final next Wednesday with Bob Crowley against Glen Giese and Bob Edwards against Gordon Lewis.
Saturday 26th March 2022 and bowls began in the Club Handicap Singles. Use was again made use of the synthetic green as a further 9mm of rain made the grass too wet. First round play with three games in the morning and the rest in the afternoon. Mick Flynn (14) playing Noel Fraser (12) was the first game and maybe a surprise here with Mick winning 31-25 shots. Noel was ahead 3-2 shots after 4 ends but there after Mick took a slender lead and maintained it to the finish. Viv Gear (14) and Terry Norwood (12) Viv Gear was back on the green after his epic tussle with Bob Crowley on Saturday. Again a relatively small defeat by Terry who won 31-25 shots. Viv again was off the blocks stronger leading 9-1 after 7 ends and leading until the 21 end when Terry inched ahead 21-20. Terry then lead all the way to the final 31 shot score. Alistair McGhee (12) had the better of Arnold Lenzchk (14) with a comfortable 31-4 win.
In the afternoon there were forfeits from Nathan Boyers and Andy Connor allowing Kevin Stafford and Bob Edwards to advance unopposed. This left four matches during the afternoon play. Graham Hunt (12) against Bob Crowley (9). Bob agave away 3 shots to Graham but by end 6 the score was tied at 6 all. Bob had the run of play for the next 14 ends and was leading 18-11 on the 20th end. Graham then fought back and by end 28 had leveled the scores at 22 all. From here to the finish on the 35th end Bob was in control and won 31-26 shots. Owen Williams (14) versus Peter Morales (12). Seven shots all after 9 ends and then Owen squeezed ahead and kept that narrow margin all the way to the end with the final score 31-24. A good win for Owen over the ever dangerous Peter. Gordon Lewis was on a high after his easy win over Staples and took a 8 shot lead into his game against Josh Woodcock. Twelve ends before Josh eradicated his handicap and Gordon had amassed 9 shots. Twenty one ends and Gordon still lead 15-11. However, 7 ends in a row for Josh allowed him to take the lead 23-15. As we all know Gordon never gives up and he won 7 of the next 8 ends to not only catch up bur draw ahead 26-25. An upset was on the cards but it was not to be with Josh winning 3 of the next 4 ends and winning 31-27. Final match was another thriller.Terry Butt (14?) against Glen Giese (12). This was a 42 end game and not decided until the last end. Again, a see saw match all the way and at end 39 Glen lead 30-26 and almost home and dry. Next end Terry was down 3 shots but with an excellent shot trailed the jack to his own bowls and picked up 2 shots and score 30-28 to Glen. Glen placed a bowl alongside the jack, enough for the win, but Terry played another ace shot to take 1 shot and close to 29–30. Last end and Glen continued his excellent play and was able to draw the shot for a 31-29 win. A fine effort and added to his Wednesday close win a terrific week of bowls for Glen.
My thanks to Bob Crowley, Men’s president, for the notes on the Mixed Pairs played on Sunday morning 27th March 2022. I have posted them as received as the games are very well described.
Julie Hayden and Kevin Stafford defeated Alex Lamb and Carl Spilker 25-16 in a hard fought contest. Julie and Kevin led from the start but Alex and Carl clawed back to 19-16 on the 18th end, after being down by 16-4 on the 10th end. A very solid performance from Julie and Kevin.
Reta South and Nathan Boyers defeated Alice Moore and Terry Butt 33-5. Reta and Nathan were on fire for the whole match and were never in danger, but Alice and Terry fought hard right to the end.
Jim Neely and Gail Fraser had a great tussle with Bev Clayton and Josh Woodcock. Quite a close game all the way, Jim and Gail finished very strongly over the last 4 ends to take the match by a 12 shot margin, 27-15.
Elizabeth Shepherd and Alistair McGhee were behind for most of their match, but managed a 6 on the last end to take the match 24-23. Enid Brown and Don Coleman were unlucky after playing a really solid game.
So next Sunday morning are the semi-finals, with Julie and Kevin playing Reta and Nathan, and on the other side of the draw Jim and Gail play Elizabeth and Al. Should be 2 good games.