After weeks of eliminations the finals of A and B Pairs and Minor Triples are now scheduled to be played at the Forbes ‘Bowlie’. Suggestion, watch for play dates, tight games expected. Both have generated plenty of interest where all four combinations have strong support but at the end of the day there can only one winner. In A and B Pairs Billy Cowell and ‘Bert’ Bayley have been the rage from day one. However, at this stage the ‘foxy’ pairing of Cliff Nelson and Jeff Nicholson have seen a shift in favouritism. It could all come down to the leads and is there any better than the very experienced Cliffy? Some say no. So the pressure is on Billy, a relative new bowler to set up the end for champ ‘Bert’. Bring it on. In Minor Triples the brothers-in-law once again go head to head, and don’t they love winning these! Another not to be missed when scheduled. In the white corner we have ‘Booza’ Bolam skipping for Cherie Vincent and Pat O’Neill while in the red corner it is “Pooch’ Dukes skipping for Cliff Nelson and Bill Scott. That man Nelson features again where leads are perhaps more important than ever in multiple games. Cliff could walk away with a double and good luck to a gentleman of bowls. To reach the final of A and B Pairs Billy and ‘Bert’ cruised home at the weekend in 24 ends over Mick Merritt and Lyall Strudwick jumping out to lead 4-1 after two and it never changed a great deal from there on, 8-6 after eight, 22-9 after 16 before the club beckoned. SOCIAL BOWLS He’s in the news early, Cliff Nelson skipped for Fred Vogelsang and Ann MacKay to be card draw winner on WEDNESDAY morning with a 14-10 win over Bill Scott, Garry James and Cheryl Hodges who was thrilled to be drawn as skip after some recent scintillating form. Over 14 ends Cliff led 5-3 then a seven on end nine had them in front 13-3. A lead never challenged on the run home. Runners-up were the ever improving Peter Barnes leading for Lyall Strudwick with a 31-14 win in 22 ends over Billy Cowell and Kerry Dunstan who at one stage asked for the ‘white flag’. 17-7 at half time and it got no better on the way home. In another one-sided game Colleen Liebich and Alf Davies won 27-6 in 20 over Irene Riley and Sue White. 13-1 after nine set the scene. Angela Dent and Paul Doust had a 21-14 win in 20 over Lesley Dunstan and Noel Jolliffe coming from 8-9 down after 10. A couple of close games finished the morning where Therese Davis and Jim Maloy back form the spelling paddock won 13-11 in 17 (?) over Robyn Mattiske and Ray Dunstan. Funny how today a lot of games finish on an uneven end. On the card it was 9-all after 11. Next door Sue Smith and Gail McKay faced off for the third time in as many weeks with the ‘cheeky’ Sue getting the upper for Tony Bratton winning 17-14 in 20 over Gail and Barry Shine. It came down to the last bowls for ‘driver’ Bratton to snatch victory where a draw look certain. Raffle winners, Kerry Dunstan and Garry James. Only three games on THURSDAY afternoon for the $600 jackpot with winning rink a game of triples where Jason Howell, Tony Bratton and Lyall Strudwick won 12-8 in 16 ends over Billy Cowell, Cliff Nelson and Laurie Crouch. After it was 3-all at the end of four it became a bit one-sided, 8-4 after nine. Tara-Lee Shaw and Denny Byrnes won a nail-biter 21-19 in 22 over Robbie Hill and Scott McKellar where only a couple of shots separated both all game, 8-7 after eight, 12-14 after 15 and 17-all at the end of 19. In the last Maxie Vincent showed wife Cherie how it was done leading for Al Phillips winning 19-4 over Cherie and her lead Ron Thurlow in 17 … that odd number of ends again. 10-1 after six. No resting touchers. An excellent roll-up on SUNDAY morning where winning rink had John Gorton and Allan Hilder winning 16-13 over a hot combination of Cliff Nelson and Denny Byrnes in the scheduled 16 ends. It was 11-7 as drinks were called. The losing rink was triples where Kelly Stringer, Doug Miller and Dwayne Dukes won 13-9 over Jax Murphy, Trish Todd and Jodie Gilchrist in12. 6-all at half time. Declan and Clint Hurford won 18-7 over Angie Dwyer and Pat O’Neill leading 13-1 after eight. He did it again this time Maxie Vincent leading for ‘Poss’ Jones winning 24-12 over Joyce Bolan and wife Cherie. Again it looked likely to be over early, 13-4 after eight. Tara-Lee Shaw and ‘Spro’ Asimus had too much fire power for Peter Greehalgh and John Kennedy winning 18-9 streaking away late after it was only 8-5 after six. Peter Tisdell and Al Phillips won 15-9 over ‘Bessy’ Besgrove and Viv Russell due to a strong finish, 10-8 after 12. Next door Dale Maynard, Paul Baker and John Cutler won 14-7 over Jason Howell, Paul Doust ad Kerry Roach leading 9-5 at half time drinks. In the last, a close one to Jamie Hosler, Garry James and Jamie Dukes with a one point win, 12-11 over Tyler and Terry Murphy for skip Lloyd Nelson. 9-3 after seven to just hold on. Chooks to John Cutler, Jamie Hoswell, Kerry Roach, Pat O’Neill, Paul Hodge, ‘Smiley' and Dale Maynard.
