Last weekend, some of our members headed out to Blayney to compete in a Pairs competition. Most had forgettable results, but John Archer and Phil Gray came third with four wins and a draw. The winning team was skippered by Steve Galvin from Grenfell.

Saturday, January 20 sees the start of the A and B Pairs competition.

Singles Championship: John Archer(0) played Hans Hummelshoj (24). Hans ‘24-point start kept him the lead until a nine pointer from John made them equal (51-all) in the ninth. A ten in the 12th end put John in the lead, 68-63 but Hans got his nose in front for a couple more ends. John powered ahead to take the game 151-120.

John now meets Mr Jack Smith, while Phil Gray and Ray Fitzalan fight out the other side of the draw.

Social Bowls Wednesday, January 10 President’s Pot:

Game 1, Rink 8: Bob Lindsay and Bob Heffernan versus Mick Sewell and Kevin Miller. Mick and Kevin scored early, taking two shots in the first end. The Two Bob’s took three shots, followed by Mick and Kevin’s one and two, so all square at three all. At the conclusion of the 12th end, the Two Bobs led 12-6. A solitary single shot from Mick and Kevin was followed by another four ends from Bob and Bob. One more single shot was all Mick and Kevin managed, the Two Bobs Worth took the last two ends and the game 18-8. Ends 14-4.

Game 2, Rink 9: Mr Jack Smith and Ian Cunningham (Most Improved Bowler) versus Ray Noonan and Phil Murray. At the seventh end, Jack and Ian led Shorty and Phil 9-6. The next four ends included a five for Jack and Ian so they then led 18-6. A couple of singles from Shorty and Phil weren’t enough, Jack and Ian scored another five in the next three ends to cement their lead, 29-8. The final score was a win for Jack and Ian, 33-12. Ends 12-9.

Game 3, Rink 10: Ron Cambey, John Martin versus Norm Hayes and Annette McPherson. Ron and John got their eyes in early and took the first four ends, eight nil. Norm and Annette won the next two, but Ron and John piled on the pressure with eight more ends won, their lead was 20-3. The last two ends yielded two shots to Norm and Annette to bring their score up to 11, but Ron and John had 23. Ends 15-6.

Game 4, Rink 11: Denis Oxley and Barry McPherson versus Alan Clark and Ian Hurford. Denis and Barry opened well with five shots in the first two ends. Alan and Ian then won the next four ends to level the score five all. A couple of singles for Alan and Ian was followed by a barrage from Denis and Barry - they took out the remaining SEVEN ends to win the game 31-9. Ends 13-8. The jackpot Number was four, and not won. The Jackpot stands at $200.

Friday, January. 12

Game 1, Rink 10: Pat Duff and Ian Hurford versus John Martin and Jim Box. After four ends, they had two ends and two shots apiece. A couple of fours had Pat and Ian in front 10-4 in the seventh. By the 13th end, Pat and Ian led 14-10. They then took out the next four ends with singles, conceded the last end to win the game 18-12. Ends 11-7.

Game 2, Rink 11: Norm Hayes and Kevin Miller versus Mick Sewell and George Ballard. Mick and George had a slow start, winning a single shot in the first five ends while Norm and Kevin had put on nine shots. Mick and George then won the next three ends with singles but Norm and Kevin replied with seven shots in the following three ends; the score 16-4. Each team won three of the last six ends to finish the game with Norm and Kevin winners on 20-10. Ends 11-7.

Game 3, Rink 13: Mr Jack Smith, Arch Ledger versus Ray Noonan and Kris Grant. Shorty and Kris took the first three with singles but Jack and Arch got into gear and took the next four ends and seven shots. Not to be outdone, Shorty and Kris also took out four ends and seven shots to lead 10-7. At the end of the 14th end, all was even, 12-all. Jack and Arch took three, Shorty and Kris, one. Jack and Arch, two. Shorty and Kris two, so the final score was 17-15 and a win for Jack and Arch. Ends 10-8 in favour of Shorty and Kris.

Saturday, January 13

Game 1, Rink 8: Garry Hotham and Bruce Rich versus Jim Grives and Bob Heffernan. Three-all in the fifth end, Garry and Bruce took a couple of twos to lead 7-3. A single from Bob and Jim was followed by three ends and seven shots for Garry and Bruce. Jim and Bob then took three ends but trailed 8-14. Two shots in the 19th put Jim and Bob into double figures, but the game was all Garry and Brucey’s 27-10. Ends 14-7.

Game 2, Rink 9: Norm Hayes, Neville Maunder and Kris Grant versus John Fulton, Arch Ledger and Kris Grant (Swinger). Norm’s crew only dropped three ends of the first eleven to lead 16-4. John’s team only managed to win two of the remaining nine ends, but were holding five shots in the last end. Norm trailed the jack into the ditch and thus took a shot. Norm, Neville and Kris had a convincing win, 28-6. Ends 14-6.

Game 3, Rink 10: John Finlay and Dennis Harvey versus Ian Schofield and Phil Murray. Scoe and Phil won the first two ends with singles in each. John and Dennis took charge with the next five ends yielding nine shots. Two more singles for Scoe and Phil left them five shots adrift, but four singles from John and Dennis had them well in front, 13-4. Scoe and Phil edged up to 14-9 in the 17th but a five, two and four sealed the match. A four in the last for Scoe and Phil put them in double figures, 25-13. Ends 13-8.

Game 4, Rink 11: Denis Oxley, Barry McPherson and George Ballard versus Ray Noonan, Bob Foster and John Allbutt (Clubman of the Year). Denis, Barry and George dropped the first end but took the next three to lead 10-1. But wait! Shorty, Bob and John got a six and a two to trail by only one. A single from Denis’ crew equalised the score 12-all. A single for Shorty’s team put them in front but Denis, Barry and George showed no mercy and won the remaining six ends and 11 shots. The final score: 26-16, ends 13-8.

Game 5, Rink 12: Mick Sewell and Ron Cambey versus Garry Connors and Kevin Miller. Mick and Ron dropped the first end and three shots, but got their act together for the next seven ends racking up 16 shots. A run of four ends for Castro and Kevin brought them close 18-13 in the 14th. A three and a one from Mick and Ron put the game beyond doubt, with Castro and Kevin’s two in the last end bringing the score up to 25-19. Ends 11-10 to Mick and Ron.

By Bob the Bowler

‎Social Bowls: A fine Summers day attracted three rinks for the Tuesday Afternoon Men’s Social Competition and all games were clear results. Tim Pickstone, Frank Farrell and Ron Hollybone scored a 22-15 win over Terry Burke, Frank Farrell and Darrell Bellamy after the Burke team were at four before the Pickstone team collected first points. It was four all after the fifth end and the Pickstone team were in front 11-6 after the 10th end and running away. Two consecutive two’s by the Pickstone team in the 12th and 13th gave them a 15-8 lead with the Burke team coming back with a three to stay in the hunt. But it was steady scoring that won on the day with the Pickstone team’s three in the 18th end pushing them out further to seal the match.

Tony McNamara, Ray Minogue and Peter Zylstra scored a 26-13 win over Paul Kennedy, Kevin Howard and Ron McGarry with the McNamara team jumping from the blocks and leading throughout the match. Winning 14 of the 21 ends played the McNamara team dominated the card setting the tone in a seven-end run from the fifth end for 14 points and a 17-2 lead. The Kennedy team made double points in the 18^th end with a four but it was all too late.

Allan Clark and Gus Thurgood scored a 21-14 win over Ken Hartwig and Colin Josh with the Clark team leading for all but two ends in the 12th and 13th where they let the Hartwig team back into the match. A five in the 14th for the Clark team and wins in all but two of the final nine ends gave the Clark team the win but they almost dropped the ball in the middle stages of the match.

Saturday Afternoon Social Competition players had to share the greens with competition players but Peter Naylor, Ray Minogue and Terry Burke were not distracted, scoring a 17-15 win over Tiger Smith, Ron McGarry and Max Elms. The Smith team led early but scores were five all after five ends and the Naylor team took the lead from there until the 21st end where scores were even again. Playing percentage bowls, the Smith team crept back into the match after being down 5-12 after the 11th end and almost caused the upset but the Naylor team secured the win in the extra end.

Noel Witney, Roger Cooper and John Bosson scored a 26-13 win over Paul Kennedy, Roger Cooper and Ted Parker after the Kennedy team scored first points. But it was the Witney team who played the more consistent bowls scoring on 13 of the 21 ends with plenty of scoring runs to keep the lead throughout the match.

Club Championships: 2018 Club Championships began on Tuesday this week with a first round triples match with Petr Naylor, Barry Quigley and John Hobson scoring a 23-14 win over Terry Clark, Bob Jenkins and Jim Clark and while the Naylor team led early, scores were even at eight all after the eighth end. Unfortunately for the Clark team, after getting back to even 2 the Naylor team scored a four and two to create the break and they maintained the pressure for the remainder of the match to win comfortably.

Saturday morning saw the first of the Singles Championships with Allan Clark taking a 31-9 win over an injured Craig McIntosh in the 21 st end. McIntosh began with a four but scores were even after the third and Clark led the match from there on jumping to 11-4 after the sixth end. It became a one-sided match as McIntosh suffered with persistent knee problems which was disappointing as the two combatants had met on numerous previous occasions with quite different results.

The first of the Fours Championship matches was played Saturday afternoon with Tim Pickstone, Barry Quigley, Gus Thurgood and Kevin Howard collecting a 17-15 win over Allan Clark, Frank Farrell, Terry Clark and Ken Hartwig. In a real upset match, the Clark team jumped with wins in the first nine ends to sit 12-0 before the Pickstone team scored their first point and scores were 12-6 after 14 ends. By the close of the 16th end the Clark team were in front 14-6 and looking at the finish line, when the Pickstone team regrouped and in a five-end run, they scored 11 points to equal the Clark team score in the 20 th end, and pass then for the win in the 21st.

Rhyce Harvey, Peter Drew, Tony Urza and Ted Stretton won their first fours match 23-22 over Garry Cameron, Jim Clark, Darrell Bellamy and David Josh after the Cameron team jumped early to lead 9-0 after four ends. The Harvey team came back with two one’s and a five, but it was all the Cameron team until the 15 th end when the Harvey team finally found their rhythm. Scoring 13 points in a five-end run which included two four shot wins, the Harvey team hit the front after the 18 th and were 23-18 in front after the 19th end. Two shot wins in the final two ends for the Cameron team were just not enough and they bow out of the competition.

Peter Naylor, Glen Urza, Butch Stevens and Tiger Smith were just too strong scoring a 26-24 win over the Tim Pickstone, Barry Quigley, Gus Thurgood and Kevin Howard team despite the Pickstone team taking the early lead. It was a close fought match with the lead changing three times in the first seven ends and scores all even after the 16th, 18th and 21st ends. The extra end was the difference in a very entertaining match.

The final Fours Championship match was another nail biter with Craig Bush, Mick Tremain, Athol Flanagan and John Hobson scoring a 19-18 win over Rhyce Harvey, Peter Drew, Tony Urza and Ted Stretton. The Harvey team jumped early with one matched by the Bush team and the lead alternated to the 11th end when the Bush team score a break with four shots to lead 11-9. A three and one gave the Bush team a 15-10 lead, when the Harvey team came back with a six-end run for eight points to lead 18-15 going into the last end where the Bush team collected a four to win by one shot. That’s it for another busy week at Majellan readers, see you next time.