Bowls Notes and Club Blog

Here is the latest news from the Bowlie.
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
The annual Handicap Pairs have commenced. The fourteen teams will play three preliminary rounds with the top four teams advancing to the semi-finals.
Thursday’s match saw Gordon Dickson and Col Hayward lead all the way in defeating Noel Nicholson and John Ward 21/15.
Four matches were played on Saturday.
Keith Alexander and Dave Johnson played Kevin Hynds and John Carr. This was a very close contest with the scores locked 13/13 after twelve ends. Keith and Dave then won three of the next four ends to lead 22/15 and held on to win 24/18.
Although losing the ends 10/11, Norm Keane and Mike Valentine picked up a number of multiple shot ends to comfortably defeat Glen Pepper and John Hodge 31/15.
John Ward and Ted Wright played Bernie Mitchell and George Boatswain. Trailing 10/18 after ten ends, Bernie and George fought back to hit the lead 19/18 after thirteen ends. The scores were tied three times in the next five ends before Bernie and George gained the lead 24/22 after nineteen ends. John and Ted dug deep and managed to score one shot on each of the last two ends to tie the match 24/24.
Gary McPhee and Geoff Freeman played Mark Dwyer and Arthur Corbett in a very hard fought match. Mark and Arthur got away to an early lead and then Gary and Geoff fought back to level the score 14/14 after twelve ends. The lead changed three times over the next seven ends before the scores were 21/21 after twenty ends. In a very tense last end Gary and Geoff held shot only to see Arthur draw the shot with his second last bowl. Geoff then managed to draw inside Arthur’s bowl to hold match. Arthur was unable to change the head with his last bowl resulting in a very close win to Gary and Geoff 22/21.
Sunday afternoon saw a semi-final of the Major Fours played.
Craig Henry, Peter McPhee, Dave Johnson and Graham Fliedner were opposed to Norm Keane, Wally Grant, Mike Valentine and Keith MacRae. Graham’s team only dropped six ends in recording a good win 29/15.
Graham’s team will now play Steve Turner, Paul Henry, Mark Dwyer and Brett Frame in the final.
SUNDAY MORNING JACKPOT
Only five bowlers turned out to try to win the $1000 jackpot.
A game of Triples was played with Rob Irving leading for both teams. Rob teamed with Elaine Miller and Steve Turner to defeat himself, Mal Porter and Greg Townsend 16/9.
Unfortunately for the five bowlers the jackpot number was not drawn.
Prize winners were Mal Porter and Greg Townsend.
Come along next Sunday for a game, a sausage sizzle, and to be in the running for the $1000 jackpot.
SOCIAL
22 bowlers turned out on Thursday playing four games of 2-4-2 Pairs and one game of Turn Around Triples.
Craig Henry and Warren Bevan lead John Dunn and Max Tomkins 18/6 after 12 ends. John and Max then won seven of the last nine ends, but were unable to make up the early deficit and Craig and Warren ran out winners 20/16.
Bruce Deland and Gary McPhee played Norm Keane and Tom Casey. A closely contested match saw the scores tied 16/16 after sixteen ends and then 19/19 after twenty ends. Norm and Tom scored one shot on the last end to snatch victory 20/19.
Wal Grant and Greig Ball powered home to defeat Ted Wright and Robert Tinker. Ted and Robert lead 17/7 after thirteen ends. Wal and Greig then won six of the last eight ends to run out winners 23/19.
Bill Skinner and John Carr lead Dave Buggie and Graham Barby 10/3 after nine ends. Dave and Graham then won the next five ends to lead 17/10 and hold on to win the match 20/16.
The 2-4-2 format proved popular and resulted in four very even games.
In the triples match Tom Cole, Geoff Freeman and Joe Crowley were down 3/6 after six ends against the combination of Mike Valentine, Rob Irving and John Corcoran. Tom, Geoff and Joe then won the next eight ends to lead comfortably 19/6 and then went on to win the match 22/10.
Thursday prize winners were Norm Keane and Tom Casey and the runners-up were Gordon Dickson and Col Hayward.
Saturday saw 16 bowlers play four games of Pairs.
Leading 14/9 after thirteen ends, Alan Affleck and Robert Corbett won six of the last eight ends to comfortably defeat Bill Skinner and Max Tomkins 28/12.
Ron Murray and Greig Ball proved too strong for Gordon Dickson and Joe Crowley. Leading narrowly 14/12 after fifteen ends, Ron and Greig then showed their dominance in running out winners 25/15.
Steve Turner and Dave Buggie finished strongly to defeat Wal Grant and John Corcoran. The score was 10/10 after ten ends. Steve and Dave then won nine of the last eleven ends to run out comfortable winners 31/13. I noticed John was using a set of very old Dunlop bowls, apparently a trial run for an “old bowls” carnival being conducted at Eugowra.
In the last match, Tom Cole and John Dunn played Col Woods and John O’Malley. In a match where the scores were tied a number of times throughout the encounter, it was a fitting result of an 18/18 tie. Tom and John won the ends, and the bragging rights, 12/9.
Saturday prize winners were Alan Affleck and Robert Corbett and the runners-up were Ron Murray and Greig Ball.
GENERAL
Windmills Restaurant is holding a Seafood Night on Sat 14th September with Risky Business providing the entertainment. Cost is $35 per head. Bookings are essential and close Fri 13th.
STARTERS
Tomorrow – Tony Byrne and Ron Hornery.
Saturday, September 14th – Wally Austin and Col Mudie.
Thursday, September 19th – John Ward and John Carr.

This is my last report as the “Driving Lead” will be home from holidays before these results hit the news-stand.
It was good to go out a winner, being able to report two wins this week for “The Sub”.

Drop in any time and enjoy the hospitality of the Bowlie.