The final of the 2020 Minor Triples Championship was contested on Thursday.
The defending champions, ‘Maz’ Mazoudier, Erik Pedder and Paul Lozelle needed to overcome the challenge of Keith Smith, Bob Gunning and Chris Gunning if they were to repeat their 2019 victory and for Maz and Paul produce a ‘threepeat’.
All was going according to plan for the champions as they cruised to a 17 shot to seven lead and apparently in total control. However, Keith Smith started to find his range and the platform upon which Bob and Chris Gunning could build upon. Slowly but surely the scoreboard started to turn and by the twenty-fourth and penultimate end the challengers had established a two-shot lead placing Paul, Erik and Maz under pressure to find two shots to force a draw or three for the win. Keith. Bob and Chris played the end well, covering most possibilities and gladly gave a one-shot score to Paul and his crew. Keith, Bob and Chris took the title, and the Ron Moore Memorial Trophy, by 23 – 22 in a fantastic game of lawn bowls.
The first round and quarter-finals of the Major Triples Championship were played on Sunday in almost perfect conditions. The extraordinary field of teams produced some great games of bowls with several surprising results also developing.
In the morning rounds, Brett Pingel, Paul Lozelle and John Deale came within a whisker of defeating Tom Cross, Greg Johnson and Martyn Wood going down by 18 – 16; Wayne Curtis, Col Lindsay and Alan Abbott recovered from a 17 shot to three deficit to defeat Greg Dickman, Trevor Bardsley and Jim Johnson by 27 – 22; Nev Hillyard, Terry Johnson and Brad Johnson were too consistent for Peter Julian, Bill Williams and Bill Andrews by 31 – 12; and Alan Reed, Brad Wynne and John Luchetti required every ounce of skill and good fortune to defeat John McGovern, Dave Coupland and Tony Abbott by 23 – 21.
The quarter-finals had it all, drama, great bowls and close contests. Nev Hillyard, Terry and Brad Johnson were forced to show true resilience to overcome Alan Reed, Brad Wynne and John Luchetti by 29 – 23; Allan Parker, Graham Meany and Peter Forrester experienced similar issues against Steve Cassidy, Dave Atkinson and Bob Ballantyne to eventually take victory by 25 – 15; Tom Cross, Greg Johnson and Martyn Wood defeated Wayne Curtis, Col Lindsay and Alan Abbott by 25 – 23 in a capricious contest; and Cliffe Vagg, Steve Jackson and Ian Parker were too good on the day for Jake McHutchison, Brian Pennell and Steve Kliendienst winning by 30 – 14.
The championship will conclude on Sunday March 15 with the semi-finals scheduled to commence at 9am.
Nomination sheets for the Club Major, Veteran and ‘C’ grade Singles Championships are on the notice board. Members are encouraged to participate in these classic championship events.
The 2020 Community Bowls Battle was three rounds remaining and at this stage it is the ‘Oyster Cove Lakers’ who lead the pack. Play will continue each Tuesday evening culminating on St Patrick’s Day with the finals.
Men’s social bowls will continue on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. 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.
Wednesday February 26
Winners: Terry Johnson and Greg Dickman; Runners up: Lance McCarthy and Neil McKenzie; Encouragement: John McGovern and Richard Skippings.
Friday February 28
Winners: Brian Pennell, Tom Cross and Steve Kliendienst; Runners up: Charlie Nash, ‘AJ’ Butava and Col Lindsay; Encouragement: Matt Fester, Ray Brown and Gary Taylor.
Don Freeman