BOWLS
By TARA SHAW
The Clubs Major Triples Champions have been crowned for 2025.
The dynamic trio made up of Clint Hurford leading for Robert ‘Pooch’ Dukes and their trusty skip Mitch Andrews are this year's Major Triples champions defeating Brett Davenport, Brian ‘Spro’ Asimus and Christian West.
It was always going to be a close game: many years experience on the greens, bringing their best on game day, big guns verse big guns. Rest assured the game did not disappoint.
Mitch’s team had a handy 10-4 lead on 10 but Westy’s team kicked it up a gear to close in on 12 on trailing by 2.
Just in front on 16, Mitch’s team could not afford to back off and that showed with Westy scoring a 5 to hit the lead for the first time in the game on 17.
Answering back with their own 4, Mitch’s team took the lead back and looked for the finish line.
Just keeping their heads above water leading by 5 on 21, Westy’s team scored another 4 which could have been the game changer with the board showing Westy trailing by 1, 21-22.
Not much in it with only two ends to go, crowd was on the edge of their seat and biting their nails until Mitch gained a 4 on the second last and a 2 on the last to concrete their win 28-21.
MAJOR FOURS
Clint Hurford, Geoff and Bruce Williams and Robert ‘Pooch’ Dukes played Billy Cowell, John Kennedy, Scott McKellar and Lyall Strudwick in their first round of Major Fours on the 3rd of August.
Braving the freezing cold weather this was a marathon game. Lyall’s team scoring back to back 4’s in the first 10 ends levelled the playing field to 10 all on 9. Neck and neck again on 13 neither side was showing signs of slowing down.
Pooch’s team just skipped a little further ahead on 17 to lead 19-15 but the game certainly was not over yet. Pooch was able to take the next 2 ends leading 21-15 until Lyall scored another 3 but it wasn’t quite enough to seal the deal. Pooch’s team winning 21-19.
BEN HALL PAIRS WEEKEND
Forbes Bushrangers are hosting their annual Ben Hall Pairs Bowls Tournament this weekend.
There will be quite a few visitors in town to participate and try their luck at some prize money.
There will be great bowls and phenomenal talent and experience across both days this weekend not to be missed.
SOCIAL BOWLS
Wednesday - After a chilly start to the morning last Wednesday it was noticeable some players were showing their winter tans in t-shirts as the day warmed up.
It did not finish there for some as the lightning fast greens made for some interesting deliveries with the ditch a popular resting place. As one said, ‘A bit of sand doesn’t hurt anyone.’ So true.
It came down to the last end for card draw winners Geoff Coles and John Baass winning 18-17 in 18 ends over Terry Molloy and Alf Davies.
The two ‘seniors’ did it the hard way, down 5-14 after nine to hit their straps on the run home highlighted by three three’s.
Geoff and John were still behind 12-17 after 14 but 6-0 in the last four was a winning result.
In a change from the regular second draw it is now the ‘losing rink’ which has Irene Riley and Jeff Nicholson collecting the cash going down 12-18 after playing Bill O’Connell and Billy Cowell in 20. Not a great deal separated the pairs with a four on the last a highlight for the winners after it was 9-all at the end of 13.
Phil Bayley and Sue White almost saw Therese Davis and Geoff West raise the white flag winning 26-5 in, wait for it, 15 ends. Another odd end finish!
Bill Scott and his opposite Wayne Wright were two who found the greens a bit slippery with the leads finding five of their six deliveries in the ditch on one end.
Over 20 ends Bill and his skip Barry Shine prevailed 19-17 over Wayne and Dale Scott with the score even at 4-all after four, 7-all after eight and 11-all at the end of 12.
A couple of threes helped the winners on the run home.
Eddie Gould and Scott Andrews had a mix morning playing Sandra Priest (and at times Glenn Kearney) for skip Ross Williams winning 25-11 in 20 well in command at 14-4 after 12.
Nothing separated Angela Dent and Tim Everest drawing 17-all playing Barry White and Peter Mackay over 18 ends. Angel and Tim led 6-0 after three prior to it being 9-all at the end of eight then 13-14 after 15.
One on the last is all it took for the draw, that going to Angela and Tim. In-club winners Angela Dent and Alf Davies.
Thursday – A little warmer then Wednesday morning bowls with the sun shining and the birds were singing. 24 bowlers lapped up the great weather for an afternoon of fun in the sun.
Eight points the difference when Tim Everest led for Dale Scott against Bobby Grant and Glen Kearney.
The game was nice and close until the last 5 ends when Tim and Dale got valuable runs on the board including a 5 to seal the deal winning 20-12.
The show rink of the afternoon was between Geoff Williams and Scooter Andrews coming up against Laurie Crouch and Spro Asimus.
Looking at the score card, Geoff and Scooter weren't the only ones running out of steam going off their pen running out of ink. Laurie and Spro lead all the way and took the win 19-16.
Ivan Hodges teamed up with Posso Jones to play Cliff Nelson and Cherie Vincent. Some big numbers were scored in the first 2 ends with each side scoring a 4 each setting the tone for the game. Ivan & Posso led 15-12 on 13 there wasn’t much in it. Ivan and Posso were the victors on the day 22-17.
Max Vincent and Alan Hilder were unlucky and went down by 1 point in the end against Ange Dwyer and Jeff Nicholson.
Max and Alan held the lead until the 14th when Ange and Nicho took 6 points over the next 2 ends. Max and Alan scored on a 3 on the last but went down 14-15.
Wayne Wright and Lyall Strudwick prooved to good for Tara Shaw and Viv Russell with a 5 point difference at the finish line.
Tara and Viv were off to a great start until the 9th when Wayne and Lyall found their groove and levelled the score 10 all on 12. Wayne and Lyall won 4 of the last 6 ends to close the door on a 22-15 win.
Dale Maynard and John Kennedy had a battle against Noel Hocking and Wayne Burton. 2point gap on 11, Maynard and John needed to hang onto their lead.
Still remaining in front Maynard and John continued to put the pedal to the metal and won the game 16-13.
Resting touchers: John Kennedy. Raspberries: Geoff Williams and Wayne Wright.
Winning rink: Laurie Crouch and Spro Asimus, Losing Rink: Tara Shaw and Viv Russell.
Lucky Jackpot winner was Geoff Williams.
Sunady: Four games of pairs and 1 game of triples were played on Sunday morning for social bowls.
Ange Dwyer and Viv Russell just got over the line winning 19-11 against Darryl Burley and Mick Merritt.
Ange and Viv leading comfortably at oranges 11-4, Darryl and Mick had to regroup in the second half.
Ange and Viv came out on fire scoring a 4 on the first after the break but Darryl and Mick started their comeback. Taking 3 ends in a row wasn’t enough to give them a win.
A 17 point margin saw John Kennedy and Tim Everest victors over Joyce Gray and Alan Hilder. 4’s and 3’s were being scored left and right for John and Tim in the first 8 ends then topped off with a 5 straight after half time.
Joyce and Alan scored their own 4 but couldn’t compete when John and Tim scored another 5 and 4 to secure their winners spot 27-10.
Cliff Nelson and Al Phillips proved to be a well oiled machine together when they drew Peter Mackay and Cherie Vincent. 5 all on 8, they say halftime can make or break and that seemed to be the case on this rink.
Cliff and Al won 7 on the last 8 ends and sealed the deal 16-8.
Terry Murphy and Dale Scott came up against Jax Murphy and Peter Tisdell. Terry and Dale looked to have a great lead on 8 however Jax and Peter fought back hard.
Taking the lead on 11, they needed to keep their momentum. Unfortunately they ran out of gas and Terry and Dale crossed the finish line with a 16-10 win.
Our biggest margin on of the day goes to our triples rink.
Trish Todd, Max Vincent and Billy Cowell did not take it easy on their opponents Dick Sharkey, Wayne Wright and Sue White when their final score read 20-5 in favour of team Billy Cowell.
Big numbers and big scoreboard lead for Billy’s team on 6, leading 15-0. Sues team tried their best and dug deep. They were able to get runs on the board on 7 but couldn’t find their groove.
Resting touchers: Peter Mackay, Viv Russell, Joyce Gray. Raspberries: Max Vincent, Darryl Burley.
Winning rink: John Keenedy and Tim Everest. Losing Rink: Dick Sharkey, Wayne Wright and Sue White.
Jackpot winner: Cherie Vincent.
Chicken raffle winners: Greg Grogan, Al Phillips, Peter White, Dick Sharkey, Ange Dwyer, Alan Hilder, Wayne Wright, John Kennedy, Michelle Hodge.