A good roll up of 29 bowlers took to the greens for games of pairs and triples.

Rink two: Robert Stakenburg was the swinger in the match between George Ballard and Gordon Death against John Banning and Allan Clark.Clark was the more consistent of the teams, winning 11 of the first 15 ends, but five shots on the ninth end kept Death in the game and they only trailed by two shots at this point. Clark kept the pressure on to win all but one of the last six ends to win 23-15.

Rink three: Ron Hogan started the match with Ron McGarry and Craig Bush but had to withdraw, leaving Peter Francis as swinger in the game with John Bosson and Peter Naylor. Bush was far too good on the day for Naylor. After losing the first end, Bush won the next seven ends, including a six on the fifth end to put them in a virtually unassailable position to lead by 16 after eight ends. They never let up and went on to win very comfortably 32-11.

Rink four: Philipe Legall, Nev Kable and Tony Hogan set up their 28-18 win over Dick Graham, Jim Clark and Gordon Holland in the first three ends with a six shot win on the third end giving them a nine shot lead at this point of the game. Holland came back with four shots on both the 16th and 19th ends to get within five shots, but Hogan won the last two ends to give them the ten shot victory.

Rink five: Despite winning the first three ends, Gus Thurgood, Peter Ryan and Tim Pickstone could not keep pace with Kevin Howard, Ted Parker and Ken Hartwig who scored 12 shots over four ends to give them a 12-4 lead after eight ends. Hartwig maintained the pressure over the remainder of the game and went on to record a 25-10 win.

Rink 6: The game between Terry Chifley, Peter Zylstra and John Davis agaist Terry Clark, Tom Beck and Noel Whitney was evenly poised after nine ends, with Whitney just in front 10-8. Whitney set up the win over the next three ends winning ten shots, although Davis came back with eight shots over two ends to stay in touch and only four behind. Whitney finished strongly to win six of the last seven ends and ran out winners 33-17.

The club was a hive of activity over the weekend, with Majellan hosting The No 4 Pennants team from Bathurst City Bowling Club to a very friendly practice match on Friday afternoon. This was a closely contested match, with the Majellan team just edging out Bathurst City 51-47. There were some high quality bowls played on a fast green which tested everyone's skills.

Saturday Bowls

Our Number 4 Pennants team played the Number 6 team on Saturday afternoon which accounted for 24 of the regular bowlers. The Number 4 players showed their experience and skill in having a big victory.

Good bowling and good luck to both pennants teams over the coming weeks.

In the remaining matches, on Rink six Dick Graham and Ray Minogue had a one shot victory over Garth Robinson and Terry James.

James trailed all the way by one or two shots only but tied scores on the 17th end with two shots.

A further two shots on the 18th end put them in a strong position with three ends to go, but Minogue came back with single shot wins on all three ends to win the game 18-17.

On Rink seven, Terry Clark and Alan North got off to a very strong start against Greg Quarterly-Scott and Ted Parker, winning the first six ends for a 8-0 lead.

Parker kept themselves in the game by winning four shots over the next two ends. Despite North winning another two shots on nine, ends ten to 15 all went to Parker and five shots on 17 set them up for a strong 22-14 win.

Sunday Mixed Bowls

A very good roll up of 22 players enjoyed a great morning of Bowls, and welcome to new bowlers Neil and Terese Haley and John Uren and Helen King.

Rink five: This was a closely contested game between Betsy Thornberry, Mick Simmons and Peter Drew against Val Zylstra, Jocelyn Ballard and Ron McGarry.

Drew had the best of the bowls over the first seven ends, but seven shots over three ends gave McGarry a four shot lead after ten ends.

McGarry continued to apply the pressure and led 17-9 with three ends to play.

Never one to give up, Drew came back to win six shots over the last three ends to just fall short by one shot, losing 16-17.

Rink six: The pairs game between Pauline Clark and Sue Murray against Leonie McGarry and Noel Whitney was a see-sawing contest with the lead changing regularly throughout the game.

Four shots on the first end and five shots on the seventh end gave Murray the advantage for the first half of the game, but Whitney kept in touch by winning the majority of the ends, but only by one or two shots.

Scores were level at 17 all on the 19th end, but a three on the 20th end to Whitney was decisive in their close win 21-18.

Rink seven: New bowlers John Uren and Helen King played opposing leads in this triples match and showed real promise.

John played with Sue Simmons and Allan Clark against Helen, Trevor Sharpham and Merle Stephens.

Scores were level at seven all after eight ends, but Clark scored a five on the next end, and continued strong form to win six of the next seven ends to run out comfortable winners 23-8.

Rink eight: Terese Haley, George Ballard and Phil Murray started strongly to lead 8-0 after six ends over Neil Haley, Ted Parker and Peter Zylstra. Zylstra came back strongly to tie the match at eight all after ten ends.

The match was in the balance until the last end, but it was Murray who won this end, resulting in a win 15-11. Well done to Terese and Neil in their first competitive game.

The members of the Railway Hotel Social Club were also at the club Sunday morning for a morning of bowls and lunch.

Our Sunday bowlers would like to thank the Social Club for their hospitality in sharing their lunch- it was delicious and much appreciated by everyone.

All players of all standards are welcome to come along to Sunday bowls - just be at the club by 9.30am for a 10am start. Bowls can be provided.

This morning between 9am-11am, Majellan is hosting the second session of its Introduction to Bowls, as part of the Seniors Festival. Please call George Ballard 0427 030 599 if you would like to come along.

Unfortunately, the Bathurst RSL Club Men's Super Pairs due to be held this weekend, February 22-23 has had to be postponed until later in the year. New details to follow on this event.

Once again a normal week with a cooler outlook and even a touch of water in the air.

Wednesday

Game one: Barry McPherson and Ray Noonan played Dennis Oxley and Garry Hotham. A good even game throughout with the score close all the way through. At 18 all on the twentieth end it was bound to be close and Garry and Dennis scored a single on the last end to win.

Game two: John Martin, Joe Young and Jim Grives played Robert Thompson, John McDonaugh and Jack Smith. Jack boy's were too consistent in this game winning the ends 13 to eight and the score 30 to 11.

Game three: Geoff Larson and Ross James played Pat Duff and Dennis Harvey. Pat and Dennis lead this game 12 to 11 at the fifteenth end but from there on won the ends five to one to record a comfortable win 22 to 12.

Game four: John Fulton and Alby Homer played Ron Hollebone and John Finlay. John and Alby had a day to forget only winning five ends.

The boy from Blayney is said to still be smiling after recording the win 31 to nine.

Game five: Bob Foster and Kevin Miller played Margaret Miller and Ken Fulton. Margaret and Ken scored early to lead 12 to six at the ninth end. From that point on the scoring was pretty close with ends and score being shared. At the end Ken's team ran out winners 21 to 16.

Game six: Suzie Simmons and Ian Cunningham played Phil Murray and Ron Cambey. A similar start to the last game with Ron's team leading 12 to six at the ninth end.

The comparison ended there as Ian's team reversed the start to score better towards the end of the game winning the ends and the score to win 18 to 16.

On Friday afternoon several Pennant trials were played at home and Majellan. Unfortunately I don't have all the results so can't report them but we thank Majellan for their assistance with these trials.

Saturday

Numbers weren't high on Saturday due to quite a few players taking part in the Zone singles at various clubs in Lithgow and Orange.

Game one: Bruce Rich, Bob Heffernan and Hanns Hummelshoj played Dan Carter, Phil Murray and Jim Grives. Jim's team scored consistently throughout this game always being in control. Unfortunately for Hanns his team only won five ends to go down 26 to 12.

Game two: Arch Ledger, Kevin Miller, Joe Young and Ian Schofield played Anthony Morrissey, John McDonaugh, Neville Townsend and Alby Homer.

At the half way mark Scho's team lead 16 to four only to be in front 16 to 15 at the fifteenth end. From there on they got back into gear to run out winners 30 to 17.

Game three: Ron Hollebone, John Fulton, Ray Noonan and Geoff Thorne played Dennis Oxley, Paul Reece, Bob Lindsay and Bryan Bromfield. This was a good close game until the fifteenth end with Geoff's team leading 12 to ten. From that point on Bryan's team didn't win an end to go down 21 to ten.

Saturday morning saw the Bathurst Real Estate juniors on the greens again with seven participants.

Welcome to the new bowler, Nolan, I hope you had a good time. In the only game that was played between the juniors: Abby Bromfield, Clara Bromfield and Karly Butler played Kane Butler, Flynn Armstrong and Eamon Wibberley. This was the classic girl versus boy tussle with the girls easily running out the victors this time.

All in all a good week to be alive, if only the green was kinder and the heavens would open and deliver some of that lovely rain to our catchment area.