BOWLS
By TARA SHAW
CHAMPIONSHIPS
Minor Pairs 2025 Championships are in full swing with majority of Round 2 and already a couple of Round 3 games played.
Phil Hocking leading for Laurie Crouch played the dynamic Eugowra duo of Bruce (Posso) Jones and Cherie Vincent.
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Phil and Laurie locking down a 3 on the first end this was set to be a game scoring large numbers for the win. Posso and Cherie responded very quickly and it was 7-all on 6.
Phil and Laurie hit the lead and hung onto it for 10 ends with the score board showing 20-16.
Posso and Cherie scored a 5 on the next that shot them into the lead and smelt victory. Sprinting to the finish line and winning the game, Posso and Cherie won 24-21.
Bobby Grant and Alan Hilder drew Benny Parslow and Dale Scott. Bobby and Alan were first point scorers while it took Benny and Dale a little longer to find their groove.
They definitely found their groove on the fifth taking out the next sixth ends to lead 12-4.
Bobby and Alan had to pull out all the stops but luck was not on their side when Benny and Dale gaining another 4, it was a hard scoreline to chase. Benny and Dale were victors of the game 24-6.
Minor singles: It was certainly a weekend worth watching for supporters and players with a quarter final played on Saturday then the winner had to back it up and play a semi-final on Sunday.
Unfortunately our quarter final game was delayed by the due date and that’s why the winner of this game needed to play the semi-final the following day.
Robert (Pooch) Dukes played Jeff Nicholson in the quarter final. Pooch needed to give his all and more if he wanted another chance to try his luck again after being runner up of the minor singles in 2024.
Pooch got away to great start taking the first 3 ends and Nicho hit back taking the next 3 to have a 1 point deficit.
Pooch was lucky enough to gain two 4’s in the next five ends to give him a handy lead of 17-5.
Nicho is definitely not a player you can afford to relax around when he won the next two ends, one thought this was his comeback tour. Nicho was able to score another 5 points but couldn’t quite close the gap and Pooch advance to the semi-final winning 25-13.
Our first semi-final was played on Saturday between Geoff Brown who has been playing in great form in this years championships had to play the very experience Bobby Grant.
A great start by both lads with 3 all on 5 and Geoff just creeping in front with the next three ends to lead 7-3.
Bobby wasn’t throwing in the towel early and gained a 3 on the 11 to trail by 1, 7-8.
Geoff had a luck streak for the next four ends and scoring a 4 on the 15th certainly helped. Geoff again took the next four ends to increase his lead 20-11.
The game was certainly going to be a close one.
Bobby was able to win three of the last four ends but unfortunately couldn’t catch Geoff with final score 14-25 to Geoff.
With Pooch winning the quarter-final on Saturday, Pooch played Dale Scott in the second semi-final for the minor singles championships on Sunday. 3 all on 3, 4-3 on 4 this was the making of a tight game which displayed some unbelievable bowls.
Dale hit the lead holding the cards 7-6. Dale won the next two ends to put a 4 point gap between him and Pooch.
Pooch had to regroup and starting getting more runs on the board and was chasing 5 on the 14th to close the gap.
Dale leading 16-9 on 15, Pooch scored a 3 and 1, getting closer to his target. 21-14 down on 21, Pooch needed to pull out all of his tricks and that’s what he did a scored a 4 to trail 18-21.
Chasing a margin of 3 is within grasp and with a very tight head and no clear way in Pooch had no choice but to drive and kill the end.
Pooch won three of the last four ends and still trailed by 1.
Holding two shots in the head one would take the points but not Pooch, the skill and delivery of his last bowl Pooch got another bowl in the head to win 3 points and the overall game 26-24.
The final of the minor singles final will be played between Geoff Brown and Pooch Dukes on Saturday 14th June at 1pm.
SOCIAL BOWLS
Wednesday: A good roll-up last week for six games of pairs where Melbourne visitors Susan and Chris Jones were welcomed for Chris to leave as one of the in-club meat tray winners. The other, none other then prolific raffle winner Peter Mackay.
Card draw winners were Tim Everest and Ross Williams 24-11 in 20 ends over Ron Thurlow and Paul Doust. They lost the first two ends bringing it to 7-all after nine to dominate from there on.
Runners-up were Phil Hocking and Kerry Dunstan over Sandra Priest and visitor Chris Jones 28-12 in 22 ends. They also finished strong only leading 14-10 at the end of 10.
Ann Mackay and Geoff West won 20-16 in 20 over Susan Jones and Noel Jolliffe. Must have been something in the water as they also had to finish best coming from 8-12 down after 10.
Cheryl Hodges and Peter Mackay won 19-12 in 20 over Eddie Gould and the ever young John Baass. Another to finish best down 5-11 at half time.
Sue Smith showed her championship form leading for Billy Cowell winning 22-11 over Anne Nixon and Don Craft leading 10-3 at half way of 20 ends.
In the last Bob Grant was ‘on fire’ showing his championship qualities leading for Lyall Strudwick winning 23-13 in 20 over Bill Scott and Barry Shine. They had it sown up early, 18-2 after nine.
Thursday: With two minor pairs championship games being played on Thursday and most of these players are normal Thursday afternoon bowlers we had very low numbers but still enough for a triples game.
Max Vincent, Tara Shaw and Viv Russell were very unlucky when they played Lyndy Bokeyar, Wayne Burton and Al Phillips. Al’s teams kept their opponents scoreless until the 5th end when they gave away 1 point. They didn’t stop there winning the next 4 in a row to lead 14-1. Dropping a 5 on the 11th certainly did not help Max, Tara and Viv and backing that with a 3, Al’s team were on fire.
Viv’s team picked up another 8 points but could not catch Al’s team by a long shot with Al’s team winning overall 24-12.
Sunday: 22 players took to the greens in warmer winter weather for Sunday social bowls.
Max Vincent teamed with Ron Thurlow to take on Joyce Gray and Lyall Strudwick. Joyce and Lyall were on fire and leader board showed they were 7 in front at oranges. Max and Ron had some sugar at the break but couldn’t climb the ladder fast enough and Joyce and Lyall won the game 18-6.
Darryl Burley led for Al Phillips when they drew Billy Cowell and Peter Mackay. Billy and Peter certainly had their weetbix for breakfast and that showed when they headed to the break leading 8-2. Gaining a 5 and a 4 Billy and Peter were not taking it easy on Darryl or Al and sprinted to the finish line 21-8.
Our only triples game of the day was girls vs boys when Kelly Stringer (Dick Sharkey), Tara Shaw and Cherie Vincent came up against Jax Murphy, Juss Scifleet and Viv Russell.
Kelly subbing in Dick Sharky a new bowler to get him familiar and comfortable he did not disappoint. Although the boys had the first points the girls took over from then They won 4 of the next 6 and went into half-time lead 6-4. Not sure what the boys did at half time but the girls came out guns blazing and won the game 11-7.
Peter Greenhaulgh led for Kerry Roach when they drew Terry Murphy and Alan Hilder. This was our closest margin game of the day with Peter and Kerry leading 8-3 on 8. Terry and Alan started to come back to level on10 but Peter and Kerry had other ideas and rushed to the fine line 15-10.
Our last game was played by Tyler Murphy and John Cutler the victors when they played Trish Todd and Mick Merritt. Tyler and John found their groove early and went into the half-time break leading 7-3.
Winning five of the last eight ends Tyler and John high jumped the finish line 15-8.
Resting touchers: Peter Mackay and Lyall Trudwick. Raspberries: John Cutler and Max Vincent
Winning Rink: Rink 6, Tyler Murphy and John Cutler. Losing Rink: Rink 3, Jax Murphy, Juss Scifleet and Viv Russell.
Jackpot draw winner: Jax Murphy.
Chicken raffle winners: Peter Greenhalgh, Joyce Gray, Billy Cowell, Jax Murphy, Pooch Dukes, Brett Davenport, Ron Thurlow, Al Phillips, Juss Scifleet.
