BBC BROADCAST WEDNESDAY 23rd AUGUST BOWLS    (Terry Norwood reporting)

A couple of points to start with:

1. The Rookie Singles Competition will be run shortly, so anyone who commenced bowling anytime since January 2019 is encouraged to enter. The nomination form is posted on the notice board ready for names to be entered.
2. For the Grade Four Pennants team the competition continues this Saturday August 26th.The two matches will be conducted on the Waratah Green commencing at 1pm. The Grade Two team has another bye on this weekend but the two sides will play each other in a warmup match in preparation for their next game the following Saturday.
3. The Men’s Bowls Committee will have its next meeting at 10.30 on Saturday August 26th. Details of proceedings will be available shortly thereafter.
4. Senior bowler Bob Edwards has, on behalf of the membership, delivered to Brian Payne the congratulations card signed by bowlers. This card, to mark the Life Membership awarded to Brian, was much appreciated. In addition, an article about Brian’s Life Membership written by Gordon Lewis has appeared in the latest edition of the Southern Highlands Express. Definitely worth a read!

Social Bowls Wednesday

Despite the very cold afternoon, thirty-two bowlers turned out for social bowls on the 23rd. Heavily overcast, the temperature was nowhere near the promised fifteen degrees and a nasty breeze didn’t do anything to cheer proceedings. Nonetheless, as a hardy bunch we shrugged that off and got down to what we love – bowling. Given the numbers, the Match Committee organised two games of pairs and four of triples.

In the usual 18-ender on rink 8, Bill ‘the’ Pope, John Fleming and Junior Cummins did battle against Keith Edwards, Neville the Tanner and skipper ‘Rowdy’ Paul Rubie. Under very astute leadership, team Cummins got off to a very hot start winning the first four ends and setting up a huge lead of 8 – 0! However, four ends later Paul’s team hit back strongly with a 7 … yes folks a 7 shot haul on the eighth end! This put a very cheerful team Rubie in front and from that point they were never headed. With Neville a standout and making the difference, team Rubie won the majority of the remaining ends to run out winners 20 – 16. And, of course, this group won the after bowls Jackpot!

In a pairs match on rink 9, Russell Dunstan and skipper that sharp leftie Clive Neutze took on Brian ‘misere’ Bailey and ‘super coach’ Robin Staples. Although both teams got on the scorecard early, Russell and Clive had much the better of the first six ends to lead 9 – 3. It was then that Brian found his range and he and Robin won the next four ends to lead 11 – 9. In a really tight game, with all bowlers contributing well, the scores were level after thirteen ends. At this point team Staples strung together some ends and were looking comfortable at 19 – 13 with four ends to play. Far from done, Russell and Clive hit back to be within three shots on the twentieth. However, Robin and Brian kept their calm to take the match 22 – 16.

The second pairs match saw Joel Hunt and Mick ‘Stoke’ Flynn take on Ian Duncan and Stephen ‘Bundy’ Day. In a cricket score opening, Joel and Mick scored three shots on the first end only to concede five on the next! Mick and Joel won the next couple of ends but were soon under the pump when they lost the next three to be down on the scorecard 12 – 5. The sides then won alternate ends but by the fourteenth Joel and Mick had closed the gap to three shots at 15 – 12. This, however, was as close as they were going to get as Ian and Steve dominated the remaining ends to take out victory 21 – 13.

In a triples match on rink 11, Denis Lees, Terry Norwood and skipper Steven Goddard battled for bragging rights over Graham ‘fairly hot’ Hunt, Arnold ‘crackling Rosie’ Lenczuk and Gordon ‘not so unflappable’ Lewis. In another cricket score opening, Gordon and his boys scored six shots on the third end and led  their stunned opponents 7 – 1. They scored another shot on the next end, but by the sixth end team Goddard had found much better form and trailed by only three shots. They followed with a run of three ends so that by the ninth they hit the lead at 10 – 9. Gordon’s team then hit back with a massive five, only to concede fours on the twelfth and fourteenth ends. Ouch! Steven’s team then won the majority of the remaining ends and, with a five shot haul on the last, ran out victors at 29 – 18. A few words were tossed around about this result but, perhaps, ‘comprehensive drubbing’ might sum the game up!

The unflappable Steven and the normally unflappable Gordon!

In another triples match, Jill Harwood, Bill Meredith and skipper Chris ‘irrepressible’ Forrester took on Graham Hartnup, Col ‘Hawaii’ Stone and skipper Tony ‘sparks’ Oakes. And this was another game where the scoring was high! Overall on the twenty ends, there was one score of six shots, two of five shots, one four and four threes as well as a couple of doubles! Chris’ team opened the game with three shots but when they conceded the six on the fourth end they were down 8 – 3. Two ends later they were in front only to drop five on the ninth end and to be five behind at 10 – 15. Tony’s team then did most of the scoring from that point to come away convincing winners at 30 – 16. All bowlers had their better ends, but Chris is working on a method of clearing the way for a drive!

The style of the skippers Chris and Tony!

In the final match, another triples game, Phil Payne, Walter Markow and skipper Ian ‘Cros’ Crow battled against Barry Werfel, Mike Hook and skipper Joe ‘dapper’ O’Donnell. In a very tight opening, the sides shared the first five ends for Joe’s team to lead 4 – 3. The an ‘explosion/implosion’ erupted on the sixth end!! A massive, mouth-watering six shot haul to Ian’s team put them well and truly on the front foot. From that point the match was very tight with only single shots scored on each of the next ten ends! However, Ian’s team had had the better of proceedings and set up a lead of 15 – 8. Joe’s team then hit back strongly with a four and a three to get within a shot – game on with two ends to play! However, Ian then steadied his team and they came home winners at 21 – 15.

The skippers in action – Ian Crow and Joe O’Donnell!