The final of the CRDBA President’s Reserve Fours Championships was decided at Wolli on Saturday with the Ros Murphy skipped Maclean combination of Kim Fraser, John Connell and Garry Montgomery up against the Yamba team comprising Brian Pennell, Mick Stamp, Don Freeman and Bruce Angel. Both sides had displayed solid form in the qualifying rounds and a close encounter was anticipated.
Ross and his side started the match well with Kim Fraser winning the battle of the leads to help establish an early supremacy. The Maclean side looked the more dominant side and Yamba were in danger of losing touch. However, Bruce kept the Yamba combination in the contest and rallied his colleagues to fight back. The Yamba side responded and after ten ends had actually taken the lead with the scoreboard showing Yamba on 14 shots and Maclean 11. The Maclean side were having none of this temporary setback and immediately countered to again establish a lead that they never surrendered. Although the Yamba side tried resolutely, the Maclean quartet, with John Connell finding his form, determinedly answered each challenge.
Final victory went to Maclean by 24 – 17 in an entertaining contest.
The final of the CRDBA President’s Reserve Singles Championship was contested at GDSC on Saturday between Steve Colley of Broome Head and Gary Taylor of GDSC. The intrepid ‘Sparra’ Colley was seeking to etch his name in CRDBA folklore by taking the title on three consecutive occasions while Gary was determined to establish himself as a force within the Clarence following his breakout year in 2019. Gary took absolute benefit from his home green advantage to dominate the contest and end the reign of ‘King Colley’ by 31 – 11 in impressive fashion.
The 2020 CRDWBA State Mixed Pairs Championships will conclude with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final scheduled to be played at Yamba on Saturday (March 7). The quarter-final match-ups will feature Joan Scadden and Graham Meany (Yamba) against Sue Jacquin and Gary Harrison (GDSC); Julie Coulter and Greg Johnson (Yamba) taking on Dave Beaumont and Julie Campbell (Yamba); Roz Moore and Brad Johnson (Yamba) against Judy Abbott and Tony Abbott (Yamba); and Denise Burey (Maclean) with Jim Johnson (Yamba) tackling Lee Rae (Maclean) and Steve Colley (Brooms Head). Play will commence at 8.45am.
The draw for all divisions of the 2020 CRDBA Triples Championships has been completed with competition scheduled for March 8 & 22. The State Open division will be played at the Iluka Bowling Club; the Seniors will be hosted by South Grafton Ex-Services; and the Presidents Reserve competitors will play at Brooms Head.
Don Freeman