The three divisions of the 2020 CRDBA Triples Championships have been decided with Iluka hosting the State Open, South Grafton Ex-Services the Seniors and Brooms Head the President’s Reserve Division.
The semi-finals of the State Open Division involved three of the district’s powerhouse clubs with Bruce Swan, Phil Wrice and Tracey Jenner of Iluka taking their game against Matt Shorten, Greg Taylor and Nathan Joliffe from GDSC 25 shots to 23 in a highly entertaining contest that came down to the final bowl; and Allan Gough, Mark Walsh and Tony Lickiss also of GDSC were too good for Steve Jackson, Trevor Bardsley and Jim Johnson of Yamba wining 22 shots to 18 .
The final between Iluka and GDSC promised to be a highlight however, GDSC found trouble at every opportunity during the early stages of the match and it wasn’t until the twelfth end that they got onto the scoreboard. Tracey Jenner and his team had skipped away to a 16 shot to one lead and they are a far too talented and experienced side to waste such an opportunity. Despite a desperate fightback by the GDSC combination, the Iluka side of Bruce Sawn, Phil Wrice and Tracey Jenner took the game and the title from Allan Gough, Mark Walsh and Tony Lickiss by 24 shots to 16.
The Senior Championship was monopolised by Yamba with three of the four sides coming from the club. The team of Greg Dickman, Greg Johnson and Terry Johnson defeated Yamba clubmates Steve Cassidy, Cliffe Vagg and Ian Parker by 26 shots to 15 in the first semi-final, while the Yamba side of Allan Parker, Bob Ballantyne and Graham Meany had a narrow two-shot victory over their opponents from Maclean in John Hupfield, Peter Hurst and Garry Scott. The final was a close encounter with very little between the two Yamba sides, but when Terry Johnson trailed the jack when down by three shots and picked up a four they went ahead on the scoreboard by 18 shots to 17. Graham and his team then won a couple of tight ends with the advantage in the heads changing frequently. It was tense right to the last bowl. The players showed great skill in very blustery conditions that became worse throughout the afternoon. The final score was Allan Parker, Bob Ballantyne and Graham Meany 22 and Greg Dickman, Greg Johnson and Terry Johnson 21 shots.
Brooms Head provide an ideal venue for the President’s Reserve Triples with the semi-final matchups between Maclean against Brooms Head and Yamba against Wooli. Steve Matheson, Reg Austin and ‘Sparra’ Colley of Brooms Head took full value from their home green advantage to edge out the Maclean side of Jeff Newman, Ross Murphy and Gary Montgomery by 25 shots to 24. While the Wooli trio of Mick Hammond, Phil Baynham and Ron Forder proved too consistent for Graeme Brown, Don Freeman and Bruce Angel taking their semi-final by 23 shots to 15.
The final began in typical dour style with Brooms Head seizing the early advantage to lead by 11 shots to four after nine ends. However, Wooli controlled the match by playing long ends on the slowish green to make it difficult for the Brooms Head side, including ‘Samson’ Colley, to reach the heads and play their natural game. Wooli were soon in sight of victory and maintained their composure to claim the title by 27 shots to 17.
Don Freeman