Our club championships produced some excellent games with some interesting results. The Major Minor title was decided on Sunday.

In the semi-final Luke Dobbie and Phil Gray proved too strong for Hans Hummelshoj and Ken Waddell. Ken and Hans got off to a great start leading 6-1 after five ends before Phil and Luke struck some telling blows scoring a six, four and a five before running out 28-12 winners.

They then took on Ron Hollebone and John Archer in the final. Phil and Luke produced a dominant performance earning the title with a 27-14 result.

In the B Singles Paul Reece and Anthony Morrissey did battle for a place in the semi finals. Anthony began strongly leading 8-1 early before Paul hit a hot streak winning seven out of 10 ends to hit the lead 19-16. From that point he controlled the game winning 31-23.

In the quarter finals of the A Singles John Archer proved too consistent in his battle with Kevin Miller. John led 18-4 after 12 ends and continued his stranglehold on the match to score a 31-13 win.

Ross James and Tony Stokes were involved in a much-anticipated clash. Ross began well leading 18-3 after twelve ends before Tony staged a fight back winning six of the next nine ends to trail 15-24. Ross then regained the ascendancy to run out 31-16 victor and will now meet Phil Gray in the semi final.

John Archer took on young gun Luke Dobbie in the semi final. John gained the early ascendancy to lead 20-3 after 16 ends and never look threatened running out a comfortable 31-8 winner and earning a place in the A Singles final.

Wednesday Social Results

Game 1: Ian Schofield, Allan Clark and Graham Spurway fought back from and early deficit against Ross James, Nev Townsend and Ian Shaw to run out comfortable winners 27-10.

Game 2: Norm Hayes and John Martin combined well to win 19-9 against Trevor Kellock and Barry McPherson

Game 3: Denis Oxley and Bob Foster enjoyed the playing surface on green one to score a hard earned 26-17 victory over Pat Duff and Phil Murray.

Game 4: Alby Homer and Robert Thompson won the last five ends to score a come from behind win over Ray Noonan and Paul Rodenhuis. The final score 13-10.

Game 5: Bob Heffernan and Brian Burke began by scoring a five on the second end and were never headed winning 25-9 against Joe Young and Jeff Larsen.

Game 6: In a tight tussle Susie Simmons and Arch Ledger ran out 18-12 victors over Ian Cunningham and Bruce Rich.

Game 7: In the match of the day John Finlay and Robin Moore came from a 14-17 deficit against Bob Lindsay and Glen Miller to win the last two ends and earn a 19-17 victory.

Saturday Social Results

Game 1: Joe Young and Ron Cambey proved too strong for Norm Hayes and Brian Burke winning 24-13.

Game 2: Alby Homer completed a successful week teaming with Paul Rodenhuis to run out 18-13 victors over John Finlay and Robin Moore.

Game 3: Ray Noonan lived up to his true stature, teaming with Trevor Kellock to win the last four ends against Garry Hotham and Susie Simmons to turn a 12-17 deficit into a 20-17 victory.

Game 4: Turning the tables from a recent loss, Alex Birkens teamed with John Fulton and Daryl Geale to earn a strong 26-11 victory over Ian Schofield, Arthur Williams and Phil Murray.

Game 5: Dennis Harvey and Ian Shaw proved too strong against Mick Simmons and Arch Ledger winning 22-7.

The major singles semi-finals lived up to expectations last Saturday with both matches producing a high level of bowls and both going down to the wire.

Glen Urza and John Crocker played a classic match in their semi and it took 40 ends to decide the winner. In a high quality and low scoring match, the score was 15-14 to Urza after 20 ends. Urza then dominated the next 5 ends to take what should have been a winning lead 23-14.

However, Crocker was far from done and fought back to stay in the match, score the maximum of 4 on end 39 and trail only by 2. Urza held his nerve on the last end to score a single and and win a gripping match 31-28.

In the second semi, Craig Bush was favourite in his match against Noel Witney, but had to dig deep to overcome his determined opponent and only got on top over the final ends of the game. Witney played consistently good bowls to go out to a 19-9 lead after 13 ends, and was well in control.

However, the experience of Bush then came into play and he fought his way back, winning nine of the next 10 ends to lead 29-23. Whitney was not finished and came back to within 3 shots. Bush took the last two ends to eventually prevail 32-26 over 27 ends.

The final between the two winners will be played this Saturday and another high quality and close contest is expected - well worth watching for any keen bowler.

Social matches on Saturday saw two games of triples and a game of pairs played in cold, bleak conditions.

Game 1: Alan Clark was lead swinger in the match of Max Elms and John Hobson against Terry James and Mick McDonald.

This was an even contest throughout with Hobson having the slimest of leads after 13 ends, 9-8., and scores tied 12 all after 17 ends. Hobson then took total control, winning 9 shots over the next three ends to take an unbeatable lead and run out eventual winners 21-14.

Game 2: Ron McGarry and Peter Drew were in control in this match with Kevin Howard and David Josh from the beginning, winning the first two ends and keeping the pressure on throughout.

Trailing 6-17 after 13 ends, Josh had no answer on the day and could not stop the Drew pairing from taking out a very convincing 33-11 victory.

Game 3: This was a very close match which went down to the last end between Des Sanders, John Bosson and Tim Pickstone playing Ron Hogan, Peter Zylstra and Ken Hartwig.

Hartwig had the best of the first half of the game, leading 11-3 after 7 and 15-7 after 13. A 4 on the 14th end turned the momentum to Pickstone, who climbed back over the last 7 ends to tie the scores. An extra end went to Pickstone along with the win 20-19.

Last Tuesday social bowls saw four games of pairs on the green.

Game 1: Nev Kable and Ken Hartwig were in control throughout this match with Ron Hogan and Tim Pickstone.

Hartwig lead convincingly 23-4 after 14 ends, and although Pickstone fought back over the remaining ends to win that section of the game 12-1, it was too little, too late and they went down 16-24.

Game 2: It was a much closer game between Terry Chifley and Kevin Howard against Dick Graham and John Bosson.

Scores were level after 11 ends and again at 16 ends. A fourshot win on the next end put Bosson in the box seat and they were able to maintain their lead and take a hard fought win 19-16.

Game 3: Jim Clark and Gordon Death also had a close win over Peter Zylstra and Noel Whitney 19-17. Whitney had the best of the first half of the match, leading 11-5 after 10 ends.

Death levelled the scores, scoring 6 over the next two ends and despite dropping 4 shots on end 14, the Death pairing were more consistent over the final ends to record a close victory by 2 shots.

Game 4: In the final match of the day, Keith Pender and Ron McGarry were no match for Ian Warren and Alan Clark. Clark lead from start to finish.

Clark set up their win with a strong first half of the game and led 19-7 after 12 ends. McGarry closed the gap to six after 17, but a strong 10 shot win over the final four ends gave Clark a convincing 30-15 final score.

Mixed Sunday Bowls - there was no organised social bowls on Sunday due to the cold weather but hopefully the weather will be better and we will be back on next Sunday.

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 the 11 July with the first round to be played by 18 July and the Major Pairs close on the 18 July with the first round to be played by 25 July.

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:

With all social bowls, please have your name in 30 minutes before start of play and be at the club ready to start on time.

Members and visitors welcome at all times.