Last week it was reported how Brad Johnson continues to dominate the local lawn bowls scene when he captured the prestigious Zone One State Open Singles Championship to qualify for the 2019 State finals to be held at Ettalong in September. This week Brad teamed with his dad, Terry ‘Plover’ Johnson, to win the Clarence River District Bowling Association (CRDBA) Champion of Club Champion Pairs Championships contested at the Grafton District Services Club.
True to pedigree, Brad and Terry bonded well to advance through the quarter and semi-finals and were confronted by the talented Iluka combination of Phil Wrice and Tracey Jenner in the final. Brad and Terry started the match full of confidence and had the scoreboard ticking over nicely as they stormed to a commanding 14 shots to nil lead. However, Phil and Tracey proved why they had qualified for the final by slowly reducing the deficit to 14 shots to seven and from this point of the contest it was a relatively even affair. At the completion of 19 ends Brad and Terry still appeared to be the likely champions as they led by 25 shots to 15. However, Phil and Tracey picked up a haul of seven shots on the next end to breathe life back into their campaign with the score 25 shots to 22 in favour of the Yamba duo. Unphased by the situation and like the consummate professional ‘Plover’ drew a resting toucher to constrict Phil and Tracey’s scoring opportunities. The Iluka pair played with weight on their last two shots, desperate to dislodge the Yamba bowl, but to no avail. Brad and Terry took the championship by 26 shots to 22.
Next week Brad will team with Yamba clubmate, Adam Hart, and attempt to capture the Zone One Pairs Championship and qualify for another State final. Yamba and the CRDBA will also be represented in the Senior division with Col Lindsay and Graham Meany scheduled to make the trip the Ocean Shores. In the Presidents Reserve division, the CRDBA will be represented by Kim Frazer and Ross Murphy of Maclean.
The Travelling Bowler’s weekend trip to Tweed Heads and Coolangatta will go ahead on Saturday and Sunday July 20-21. Yamba will contest the ‘Challenge Trophy’ over two days of competition culminating with a ‘Prawn Day’ at Coolangatta on the Sunday. Full details are on the bowls bench. If you would like to participate and do not have your name on the participation sheet, please speak to the bowls coordinator.
Men’s social bowls will continue with pairs on Wednesday and triples on Friday. All games commence at 1pm and names need to be on the nomination sheets by 11.30am on the respective day of play. All nominations are guaranteed a game and visitors are most welcomed. Results from last week were:
Wednesday July 10
Winners: Peter Glover and Steve Butler; Runners Up: Peter Dockery and Bill Williams; Encouragement: Chris Muldoon and Steve Parry.
Friday July 12
Winners: Jim Groom, Rob Lindsay and Terry Sweeney; Runners Up: Geoff Solomon, George Monk and Winston Taylor; Encouragement: Gordon Anyon-Smith, Tom Cross and Craig Jacobs.
Don Freeman