How lovely it has been to welcome back regular visitors to Yamba Women’s Bowls, Sandra and Jennifer Gill from Northaven. And last week we also had Pat Stevens from Toukley joining us. Once more the Gill girls were in the winners’ circle, Jennifer on Tuesday and Sandra on Thursday. Their husbands are reportedly most unimpressed as their wives have been winning a lot more than they have done at men’s bowls. On Tuesday 7, Jennifer teamed up with Kerry Pedder to take home the winner’s Bowlo Bucks in a very tight game, winning by just two shots from Sandy Owen and Kaye Mason. Runners up that day was the trio of Kerryn Tyler/Beryl Mills/ Ruthie Fletcher who alos had a two shot win over another visitor, Pat Stevens/Raels McKibbin and Ros Dickson. But in what was the match of the day, a draw between Bev Shatte/Wendy Ballantyne and Glynis Hall/ Val Terry resulted in Glynis and Val getting the consolation bucks on a countback of ends. Bev and Wendy took the ascendency in this game early on after picking up a 5 on the 4th end. But their opponents bowled steadily to work their way back into the game, with Glynis playing really fine lead bowls to set up the head for Val, who played some great conversions. Down 11-15 on the second last end, Bev and Wendy dug deep to score a 4 and draw the game. Selectors are doing a terrific job, with so many social bowls games either drawn or won by very narrow margins. This was the case again on Thursday 9. On this occasion, not only did Jennifer Gill once more pocket the winner’s Bowlo Bucks when she teamed up with Jane Pearson to defeat Flo Stephens and Val Pate, but her sister Sandra was also in the money. Sandra skipped Faye Reeves and Carol Casement to be the lucky Runners Up, when they downed the lucky Consolation winners, Faye Reeves/Margaret Durante/Lorraine Ashbury by a mere 3 shots. Lorraine Ashbury’s luck continued when she was drawn for and successfully chose the correct Jackpot Box. The Jackpot will be reset to start again next Thursday. Thursday 9 was also a good opportunity for our No 2 and 4 Pennant teams to get some practice for the upcoming playoffs in Coffs Harbour next week. It is encouraging to see the players in good form. Our teams will play off on Tuesday 21 – 22 against the other winners from this region for the opportunity to progress to the State play-offs. We wish them all good luck and good bowling. Best wishes, too, to the Iluka 3’s who will also be contesting the playoffs. Congratulations to Candy Nixon and her South Grafton team on taking out this year’s District Triples. Candy is a class act indeed, bagging her second District title in just a few weeks. Best of luck Candy, Heather and Pam at the play-offs. Wendy Ballantyne