WELCOME to the first report for 2021, happy new year to all members and guests for a more prosperous year and looking forward to seeing you all throughout the year. As holidays are in full swing this report is a summary of games since new year's eve.

This is how it rolled:

Tuesday, December 29

Rink 10: Mick Burke, Phil Burgess and Ron McGarry were taught a lesson against Des Sanders, John Bosson and Alan Clark. Team Clark dominated from the very first end scoring five points to kick it off. Team Clark romped home 33-10 winners.

Rink 11: Ron Hogan, Gordon Holland and Tim Pickstone were also handed a flogging by Tom Beck, Trevor Sharpham and Peter Naylor. Team Pickstone were in the game early but by the 13th end this is where their game ended with not scoring a point for the remainder of the match. Team Naylor triumphant 27-12.

Thursday, December 31

THE last day of 2020 saw Majellan bowlers take part in twilight mixed bowls, playing two games of eight ends.

First games

Rink nine: Margret Miller and Kevin Miller were defeated by Mel Parker and Ted parker 10-6.

Rink 10: Pauline Clark and Alan Clark were defeated by Betsy Thornberry and Phil Murray 7-3.

Rink 11: Jodie James and Terry James were defeated by Sue Simmons and Mick Simmons 10-8.

Rink 12: Leesa Lepaio and Hugh Brennan were defeated by Anne Pickstone and Tim Pickstone 9-5.

Rink 13: Sue Murray and Trevor Sharpham were defeated by Wendy Lynn and Mike Lynn 10-5.

Rink 14: Peter Drew and Phil Burgess lost to Leonie McGarry and Ron McGarry 11-4.

Rink 15: Merl Stephens and Dick Graham were defeated by Liz Draper and Noel Witney 7-5.

Second games

Rink nine: Paul Francis (who subbed for Liz Draper) and Noel Witney were defeated by Anne Pickstone and Tim Pickstone 5-4.

Rink 10: Wendy Lynn and Mike Lynn were defeated by Leonie McGarry and Ron McGarry 9-4.

Rink 11: Mel Parker and Ted Parker were defeated by Sue Simmons and Mick Simmons 15-3.

Rink 12: Pauline Clark and Alan Clark were defeated by Leesa Lepaio and Hugh Brennan 8-6.

Rink 13: Peter Drew and Phil Burgess were defeated by Merl Stephens and Dick Graham 9-3.

Rink 14: Betsy Thornberry and Phil Murray were defeated by Sue Murray and Trevor Sharpham 13-6.

Rink 15: Jodie James and Terry James were defeated by Margret Miller and Kevin Miller 9-5.

The overall winners for the social day were Sue and Mick Simmons who took home the chooks. The real winners were all that participated to make this event a success, and a big thank you to all that contributed to the afternoon's enjoyment.

Saturday, January 2

Rink 10: Ron Hogan, Jeff Adams and Terry James looked set to take victory over Jim Clark, Ted Parker and Trevor Sharpham. With Team James having to fight back the lead from Team Sharpham who had a five-point lead by the 9th. It took something special for Team James to snatch victory in the end with six points in the last two ends to take victory 21-19.

Rink 11: Terry Clark, Ron McGarry and Tim Pickstone were neck and neck against Peter Drew, Terry Burke and Dave Josh. With the scores level on the 5th (4-all) and again on the 8th (7-all), it all came down to the last few ends where Team Josh just held out Team Pickstone 16-14.

Rink 12: Des Sanders, Phil Burgess and Noel Witney made short work of Max Elms, Dick Graham and Alan Clark. With a 13-point lead by the 9th (13-0), it was always going to be a struggle for Team Clark to make any impact with Team Witney taking a comfortable win 34-17.

Rink 13: Chuck Connors and Mick McDonald grudged it out against Tiger Smith and Peter Naylor. Team McDonald raced to a 12-1 lead by the 9th end and maintained the lead throughout the match. Team Mcdonald sneaking home with a 22-19 win.

Tuesday, January 5

Rink 10: Terry Chifley (swing bowler), Terry James and Tim Pickstone battled it out against Terry Chifley, Ted Parker and Lotzi Kotza. Team Pickstone took the early lead with a 7-1 lead on the 4th. But from there Team Kotza took the lead on the 8th and never lost momentum to take the win 24-21. Congratulations to you all for the $600 jackpot win.

Rink 11: Russ McPherson, John Bosson and Garry Cameron found it hard from the start against George Ballard (welcome back George good to see you on the green again), Mick Burke and Alan Clark. With a tight tussle throughout the match and the scores level on the 20th end (18-all) it came down to the wire with Team Clark taking the victory 19-18.

Rink 12: Ron Hogan and Des Sanders opened the match well against Dick Graham and Gordon Holland with a six-point lead by the 2nd (6-0). From there Team Sanders controlled the scoring and the match with Team Holland fighting back to level the match on the 18th (15-all). Team Sanders took the win in the end 18-16.

Rink 13: Terry Clark, Jim Clark and Noel Witney had a tight matchup with Paul Jenkins, Keith Pender and Kevin Miller. With the scores locked together on the 5th (6-all), 12th (13-all) and again on the 18th (18-all) it was going to go down to the wire with Team Witney prevailing 21-19.

THE first full week of play in the New Year saw many bowlers turn out for a game. Green no.1 was still playing heavy.

Social Bowls

Wednesday, January 6

IT was nice to have some ladies joining us for the first Wednesday match - Annette McPherson, Margie Miller and visitor Wendy Lynn.

Game one, rink one: Visitor Mike Lynn (Mollymook) teamed up with Kevin Miller against Ray Noonan and Arthur Williams. Kevin and Mike held a handy lead 10-3 on the 6th end, Shorty and Artie scored a four on the 7th but a dry spell of four ends put Kevin and Mike in front 17-7. Shorty and Artie scored six shots in the following five ends but Kevin and Mike held on to a 25-20 win.

Game two, rink two: Mike's wife Wendy led for Ian Cunningham with Paul Rodenhuis as second. They played against Denis Oxley, John Martin and Annette McPherson. With the score 7-all in the 7th end, it looked like a close game ahead. Ian's team won the next eight of 10 ends to lead 15-8, then 20-9. That was the end of their run with the Ox's crew taking the last four ends but falling short by one shot, 19-20.

Game three, rink three: Geoff Thorne and Barry McPherson versus Alby Homer and Brian Burke. It was 4-all after four ends when Geoff and Barry took the lead by winning the next six ends. This gave them a 13-5 lead which increased to 18-5. It was then Albie and Brian's turn to string some ends together but not enough shots to close the gap. Final score: 20-14.

Game four, rink four: Norm Hayes and Ian Shaw versus Ken Fulton and Margie Miller. After dropping a shot in the first end, Norm and Ian won the next six ends and 10 shots. At the 12th they led by 15-4, but Ken and Margie rallied with seven shots in the next five ends to bring the score to 15-11. A couple of twos for Norm and Ian beat a couple of singles for Ken and Margie, the final score 19-13.

Game five, rink five: Pat Duff and Nev Townsend versus Jack Smith and Phil Murray. The game started closely with 3-all then 6-all by the ninth end. Pat and Nev took control by winning six of the following seven ends to lead 15-7 in the 16th end. By dropping only a two to the end, they ran out winners 20-10.

Game six, rink six: Garry Hotham and Trevor Kellock played Bob Lindsay and Robin Moore. Garry and Trevor teamed up well to have a commanding lead of 11-4 at the 10th end. Bob and Robin then took the majority of ends to be only a shot down 14-15 at the 19th end. Garry and Trevor took the last two ends to win 19-14.

Saturday, January 9

Game one, rink onbe: Ray Noonan and Barry McPherson versus Mick Sewell and John McDonagh. While Barry and Shorty got away with the first three ends, Mick and John took the next three to lead 6-4. Ray and Barry added nine shots in the next five ends before conceding a single to the opposition. They then took the next three so the score at the 15th end was 17-7. Mick and John scored four singles in the remaining six ends bringing the score to 22-11.

Game two, rink two: Bob Lindsay and Ron Cambey versus Ross James and Paul Reece. Ross and Paul started well with seven shots in the first three ends but Bob and Ron fired off 13 in the next five. Ross and Paul re-grouped to take the lead once again 14-13. From there it was 14-all then 16-all then 18-all by the 20th end. A two put Ross in front but this was countered by a two from Bob. A couple of singles in the last two ends sealed the match for Bob and Ron, 23-20. Yes, that was 25 ends.

Game three, rink three: Alex Birkens with Norm Hayes and Arch Ledger met the team of Alby Homer, Luke Dobbie and Kevin Miller. Alby's team were trailing at the eighth end 7-4, but a five put them in front. However, Alex's team quickly re-took the lead by winning the next six ends and six shots before dropping one to Alby's team. The score at this point: 14-12. With Haggis' team winning four of the last five ends, they also won the game 21-13.

Game four, rink four: Denis Oxley, Anthony Morrissey and Trevor Kellock met Bryan Bromfield, Pat Duff and Paul Rodenhuis. It looked to be a close game with the score 7-all in the 7th end. Bryan's team got in front, 12-9 in the 10th end but Denis and crew soon overtook them in the next three ends, including a five. Bryan's team came within a shot in the next four ends but Denis's team were too strong, winning seven shots in three ends. A three in the final end wasn't enough for Bryan's team who lost 24-19.

Game five, rink five: Geoff Thorne, Bob Foster and Chris Stafford vs Dennis Harvey, Nev Townsend and Brian Burke. Dennis' crew were dominant in the first eight ends, leading 10-3. This soon changed as Geoff's team fought back, winning the next seven ends and 13 shots in the process. So, at the 15th end the score was 16-10. Geoff's team ran out 24-13 winners.

Game six, rink six: Garry Hotham, Arthur Williams and Bruce Rich vs Ian Schofield, Ian Shaw and John Fulton. Garry's crew had a strong start by winning eight of the first ten ends to lead 16-7. By the 16th it was 19-15 but Garry's team kept up the pressure, dropping only one end and winning 23-17.