The 2016 Clarence River District Bowling Association first championship of the year, the fours, were contested at Iluka last weekend with Yamba represented in all three categories of play. In the State Open Championship, the Yamba combination of Greg Dickman, Greg Johnson, Martyn Wood and Alan Abbott started their quest well and appeared to have an authentic opportunity to advance to the next round. However, a run of dropped shots towards the culmination of their game saw them overrun to go down 23-13. Allan Turnbull’s team of David Atkinson, Paul Lozelle and Allan Marr had a really good tussle in their game as part of the President’s Reserve Championships but went down 17-14. The team acquitted themselves well with Alan Turnbull fast gaining a reputation as a ‘skip’ on the rise and a player not to be taken lightly. Good news in the Seniors Championship. Yamba were represented by three teams in the semi-finals. The combination of Bill McDonald, Mark Scobie, Bruce Angel and Steve Kliendienst overcame Norm Sinclair, Mick Stamp, John Luchetti and Tom Morrow 27-10 in the first semi-final. Steve’s team managed to start the contest in full synchronisation and established an early 15 shot to one lead and maintained control of the match for the remaining ends. The Yamba consortium of Allan Parker, Trevor Bardsley, Bob Ballantyne and Graham Meany were matched against the Grafton combination of Garry Harrison, Alan Knox, Keith Garner and Keith McWaters. Although the scores were close throughout the contest, the Yamba team always appeared to be chasing shots. ‘Macca’ marshalled his team well and took them to a hard-earned, but well-deserved, 19-17 victory. In the final Yamba team skippered by Steve Kliendienst again commenced the game well and established a dominant seven shots to one lead early in the contest. Although the Grafton group was able to close the gap in the middle stages of the match, it was the Yamba crew of Bill McDonald, Mark Scobie, Bruce Angel and Steve Kliendienst that was able to dominate the back half of the contest to win 27-19. Bill McDonald played particularly well in both final games and set the foundation that Mark, Bruce and Steve were able to capitalise upon to forge a formidable alliance worthy of District Champion status. The district triples championships will be contested at Brooms Head on the weekend of February 13-14with Yamba again well represented in all three categories of play. We wish all Yamba teams the best of luck. The semi-finals and final of the 2016 Yamba Triples Championships will be contested on Saturday 6th February at 9am and 1pm respectively and should not be missed. The morning semi-finals comprise two intriguing games with Allan Parker, Norm Sinclair and Graham Meany up against Wayne Curtis, Ray Schafer and Alan Abbott, while Don Freeman, Bill McDonald and Brad Johnson square up against championship favourites Mark Scobie, Trevor Bardsley and Bob Ballantyne. The nomination sheet for the 2016 Yamba Major Pairs Championship is on the notice board with nominations closing on Wednesday 17th February at 4.30pm. On Sunday 7th February, four of the club’s Pennant grades will have a trial against Maclean. The trial will be held at Yamba commencing at 1pm. Names of those bowlers required for the trial are on the pennant selection board. Social bowls continues with pairs played on Wednesday and triples on Friday. All games commence at 1pm and names need to be on the respective nomination sheets by 11.30am on the day of play. All nominations are guaranteed a game and visitors are most welcomed. Results from last week are: Wednesday 27th January: Winners: Bruce Kilby and Alan Reed. Runners-Up: Bob Gunning and Steve Grodzki. Consolation: Bruce Blanch and Greg Johnson. Friday 29th January: Winners: Errol Cutler, Graeme Quick and Ron Moore. Runners-Up: Bruce Kilby, Mick Stamp and Allan Marr. Consolation: David Coupland, Colin Cohen and Noel Charles. Don Freeman