The club is also open with social distancing restrictions in place in accordance with COVID-19 protocols, but it is great to be able to get together with friends to have a bowl and a drink.

Tuesday bowls

Last Tuesday was a bleak, cold winter's day but 15 hardy bowlers took to the green to test their skills.

Game one: This was a pairs game which saw Jim Clark and Tim Pickstone lining up against Garry Cameron and Noel Whitney. Pickstone won the first end and were never headed on the day, leading 20-10 after 14 ends and seemingly doing it easy. However, Whitney won all but one of the remaining seven ends to close the gap to a respectable 21-17.

Game two: Keith Pender, Ian Warren and Ron McGarry took on Ron Hogan, Terry Chifley and Allan Clark in a closely contested triples match, with Clark being the victor on the day.

Trailing 2-9 after six ends, McGarry fought back to trail by one after 12 ends. A three-shot win on the next end to Clark was the boost they needed to keep the lead over the final seven ends to record a 21-16 victory.

Game three: Welcome to new bowler Des Sanders, who was swinger in the match between Peter Zylstra and John Bosson against Mick Burke and Kevin Howard.

Howard had a very strong start leading 7-0 after four ends, but Bosson kept themselves in the game by scoring a four and two to trail 9-6 after eight ends.

Howard looked set to record a big win leading 15-8 after 12, but Bosson was much too strong over the remaining ends, outscoring Howard 17-2 to run out comfortable winners 25-17.

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Saturday bowls

In contrast to Tuesday, this was an almost perfect winter's afternoon for bowls with a very good roll up of 27 bowlers on the green.

Game one: Allan Clark was the swinger with Ron Hogan and Tim Pickstone up against Peter Zylstra and David Josh. Pickstone led early but Josh fought back to tie scores at 11-all after 12 ends. Pickstone regained the lead on the next end, and won the majority of close ends over the remainder of the game to take the win 19-14.

Game two: Kerry Connors and Glen Urza proved too strong in this pairs game against John Bosson and Ken Hartwig, leading from the first end. Hartwig were in the match at the halfway point, down 5-10. Urza then took complete charge, winning 10 shots over the next three ends. Urza never let up to the end, and scored a big victory 33-10.

Game three: Another close pairs game took pace on rink seven, with Terry James and John Hobson scoring a close win over Trevor Sharpham and Garry Cameron 19-17. Cameron had the better of the first half of the match, leading 12-5 after 10 ends. Hobson almost scored an optimum on the next end, but had to settle for a seven and tie the scores. Hobson kept up the momentum to edge out Cameron and take the honours.

Game four: Kevin Howard and Ron McGarry had an even closer loss to Hugh Brennan and Butch Stevns, going down 16-17. McGarry won the first end, but were down 5-11 after 12. They kept themselves in the game with a four on the 16th end to trail by one, and points were evenly split over the remaining ends with the one shot victory to Stevens the final result.

Game five: Des Sanders, Ray Minogue and Noel Whitney were too strong against Ted Parker, Max Elms and John Crocker, leading from start to finish. Whitney led 7-0 after five, but Crocker fought back to only trail by four after 10 ends. Whitney won 10 shots over the next four ends to put the match beyond Crocker, and ran out winners 29-14.

Game 6: This was another keenly contested pairs match between Mick McDonald and Peter Naylor against Rhys Harvey and Craig Bush. Naylor got out to a strong start, winning the first four ends, and had a solid 12-4 lead after nine. Bush then began a fightback, getting to within one shot on the penultimate end. Naylor held their nerve to take the last end by one, giving them a 18-16 win in a game in which they were never headed.

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Sunday mixed bowls

Overcast conditions kept the numbers down, but eight players braved the conditions to test their skill in a new format at the club, Jack Attack, which is modelled on the game played in the Premier League.

Betsy Thornberry and Peter Drew were too strong for Val Zylstra and Tim Pickstone over four sets, winning three sets to one with Thornberry being nominated as player of the rink on the day.

In the second game, Ron McGarry and Noel Whitney had a close match against Peter Zylstra and Merle Stephens, but edged them out also three sets to one.

This weekend will see the semi-finals of the A grade singles with Craig Bush playing Noel Whitney and Glen Urza taking on John Crocker. Good luck to all players.

The nomination sheet is on the notice board for the major pairs and minor singles, so get your name in as soon as possible. Entries close for the minor singles on July 11 and the major pairs on July 18.

Membership fees for 2019-2020 have been extended until the end of September, but fees are now also being taken for the 2020-21 financial year and are payable at the club.

Just a reminder of the opening hours for the club - Monday- closed. Tuesday 9.00-6 with men's social bowls at 12.30pm. Wednesday 9-2pm with women's bowls at 10am. Thursday closed. Friday 2-8pm with happy hour 4-6pm. Saturday 9-6 with women's social bowls at 10am and men's social bowls at 12.30pm. Sunday 12.30-5pm with mixed bowls at 1pm.

With all social bowls, please have your name in 30 minutes before start of play.

A great week was had by all as our club continues to return towards normality. Some extremely interesting results in our club championships as we move towards the semi-final stage of our singles championships.

Club championship singles

In the A singles competition, Luke Dobbie played good consistent bowls to defeat Ken Waddell 31-22. Luke got away to a strong 18-11 start before having to endure a fight back from Ken, who reeled off a 5-end winning streak to tie the game up at 18-all. From there Luke scored a four and a three to run out the victor 31-22. He now joins the current title holder Phil Gray in the semi-final stage.

In the B singles quarter-final Paul Rodenhuis and John McDonagh had a real tussle with scores being tight throughout the match. Whilst John lead for much of the early stages, the scores were then all locked up at 18-all. From this point Paul played more consistent bowls to win seven of the last 10 ends to run out a 31-25 victor. He now joins Jack Smith and Denis Oxley in the semi-finals.

The remaining quarter-finals will be decided next Saturday with Kevin Miller taking on John Archer and Ross James coming up against Tony Stokes, both in the A Singles and Paul Reece doing combat with Anthony Morrissey in the B Singles.

On Sunday, July 5, the Major-Minor competition will reach its conclusion with Luke Dobbie and Phil Gray coming up against Hans Hummelshoj and Ken Waddell to earn the right to meet Ron Hollebone and John Archer in the final.

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All members are reminded that nominations for the management committee will close this Saturday, July 4.

Wednesday bowls

On Wednesday, eight brave souls took on the elements to do combat on the greens.

Game one: Ian Cunningham and Kevin Miller proved too strong for Robert Thompson and Allan Clark scoring a formidable 21 -9 victory.

Game two: Phil Murray and Joe Young had a great match against John McDonagh and Alby Homer. Scores were all locked up on three different occasions before Phil and Joe scored a two on the last end to once again lock the game up at 19-all.

Saturday bowls

Saturday brought a lovely winter's day and a great turn out on the greens with 28 players as well as two games of championship singles.

Game one: In a game that could have gone either way, Mick Sewell and Ron Cambey scored a last end two to win a tight one 18-16 against a spirited Dennis Harvey and up and coming junior Tom Rodenhuis.

Game two: With the scores locked at 12-all Ross James and Ray Fitzalan won three of the final four ends to run out 16-13 winners against Phil Gray and John Archer.

Game three: The highly credentialed team of Geoff Thorne, welcome visitor Joe Flick and Ron Hollebone finally succumbed to the relentless fire power of Shorty Noonan, Bob Lindsay and Brian Burke to the tune of 19-13.