Bowls Notes and Club Blog

Here's the latest from the Bowlie
Last week on Monday and Tuesday the Ladies District 4’s was played in Forbes. Each team is made up of four players who each get to bowl only two bowls. Each player has a role to play from the lead bowler through to the final player, the Skip. It’s important for individual efforts to combine and create a solid team performance. Normally the best bowler is the skip but unless those who have bowled for the team first have created a platform, it’s hard for the Skip to continually save the team from losing an end. As you can imagine it’s how a team deals with poor bowls, as well as good ones that determines whether they can stay competitive throughout two days of tough competition.
Parkes was well represented by 3 teams, along with teams from Canowindra, Cowra, Parkes Railway Diggers and host club Forbes. Under grey skies, and very cold weather on the Monday, 2 of the Parkes teams made it through to the semi finals on Tuesday against 2 teams from Cowra.
In one of the Semi finals on Tuesday morning Liz Byrnes team dropped 7 shots out of a possible 8 in one end. Liz asked me not to mention that but since it wasn’t a team I was playing for…why would I care? It didn’t however matter in the end because both Parkes teams were successful through to the final.
In the final Liz’s team would on one end, pick up 7 shots. Yes, of course I was instructed to mention that. So Liz Byrne and her team of Gwenda Carty, Brenda Davies, Cherie Frame were ultimately successful, in a tough grand final over the team of Margaret Hawken, Mavis Gray, Robyn Morgan and Pat Cooney. In fours it’s important that a good Skip not only be a consistent performer but also use whatever they can to motivate the other bowlers. Once again on a cold winter day, were some players were struggling to hold the bowls and bowl them strongly…Liz on one occasion was called upon to threaten a team member with “No Lambrusco (red wine) for you tonight, if you don’t get that bowl up here…” this is a common tactic in bowls and it had the desired effect with the thirsty bowler landing her bowl on the jack. Similar tactics, along with skill will be on display again as the ladies now advance to the regional Play off in Blayney on the 17th of August.
The whole club, all members are proud of how all the Parkes teams conducted themselves, and are very proud to have the District Four Champions as part of the club.
THE MAGNIFICANT 7’S RODE AGAIN
On Saturday Morning 3 teams made up of 4 players each headed to Dubbo to play West Dubbo for the right to go on and represent the zone in the state finals. On a slow green after 11 ends it was Dubbo 9, Parkes 9. It looked like it was going to be a tough contest and that is what it proved to be. After 23 ends, Dubbo 17 had managed to pull ahead of Parkes 12. With just over a third of the game gone the difference was only 5 shots. Players from both teams were enjoying the contest. In perfect weather players could think of nothing better they would want to be doing. This is why players compete in pennants. Why they are members of bowls clubs. It a game were individual skill counts but it’s camaraderie on the green, the joy of the contest, the thrill that comes with being part of a team. No matter what your age you are, bowls can deliver these things and these opportunities to you.
Near the half way mark after 30 ends Dubbo remained in the lead 27 to Parkes 20. They would go on to build on this lead and run out winners 66 – 44. Parkes won one of the three rings, and were pleased with that and by the way the players celebrated back at the club on Saturday night, if was clear they felt like winners having gone so far this season. Without a doubt the 7’s had worn the colours of the club proudly and all the members congratulate them. A few members even expressed how they wished they had of been part of the 7’s team because of how much fun they had. Some of the 7’s players will now clearly expect to be called up into higher pennant teams next season.

A huge well done to all the players…the extra training they put in…the effort of their manager Elaine Miller and vocal supporters Liz Byrne and others who travelled over to Dubbo to make it such great day. The players did the Parkes Club proud and were quick to admit that Dubbo were the better team on the day.
FRIENDLY MATCH
On Saturday once again Parkes Bowling and Sporting Club played the Parkes Railway Diggers Club but this time at their club in a friendly game to give the Railway Pennant 6’s team a practice match. They will be competing in the Zone final this coming Saturday. Even though the Railway team was missing a few star players they performed very well and it’s hoped that they will be successful this Saturday and go on to the state finals.
MENS MINOR AND MAJOR TRIPLES CHAMPIONSHIPS
Bowlers are reminded this is the last week to get you teams entered into these important club championships. Some names of players looking for a team have been and can be placed on the entry forms on the noticeboards. These games can be played once the draw is made. Players with work or family commitments are encouraged to enter and then actively search for a time to play these games. The bowls committee would like to help create the circumstances were we see all bowlers bowling more often at the club.
There are three greens and lots of times available for players to play these games. So get your names and teams in and lets enjoy a Club Championship where we can all compete and enjoy the company of each other on the green.

Coming up Charity Bowls day for Prostate Cancer and Can Assist Saturday 4th July