Clarence River District Women’s bowlers have excelled at the recent 2021 State playoffs, punching way above their weight, representing our district with great sportsmanship and wonderful achievements. These playoffs concluded the Covid-interrupted 2021 season.
Both our Grade 4 District and Regional Pennant Champions, from Yamba, and the Senior Pairs District and Regional Champions – Carol Ritale and Lois Duncan also of Yamba, each finished equal third in NSW in their respective NSW Championships.
As well, contesting the highly competitive Open Fours State Championships, having also won the District and Regional titles, Maclean’s Rhoda Pedrana, Lee Rae, Fiona Butcher-Stewart and Callie Causley made it through to the last 16 in NSW.
Every one of these ladies should be extremely proud to have emerged from the hundreds of other entrants in these statewide Championships to qualify through to the playoffs and perform with such distinction.
Often competing against clubs and districts with memberships far in excess of our own, sometimes backed by the big wealthy city clubs, our ladies have shown just how talented and determined they are.
The Grade Four Pennant playoffs at Forster two weeks ago, saw Yamba comfortably win both their games on the first day against Delungra and Wagga Rules Club, 10-0. They won both rinks and the aggregate on the ‘big board’ in each game. They had a tough time in both these games though, having to come back from a deficit.
Their third game resulted in a 1-9 loss against Bombadery but they were in an invincible position going into this game thanks to their big margins previously, and went through on top of their section. However, they struck a red-hot city side from Ingleburn and went down gallantly in the semifinal, finishing equal third in what was a tremendous achievement.
A similar third best in NSW was the outstanding outcome for Lois and Carol in the Senior Pairs. Playing at South Tamworth, they combined beautifully to lead all the way to defeat Oak Flats 19-15 in their first game, and Malua Bay 19-12 in their second. In this game they overcame an early deficit to hit the front 11-9 on the11th, to power home.
A similar scenario presented itself in the very exciting semifinal when they trailed Inverell 5-11 after 12 ends. But they ground away and gradually reduced the deficit to 11-13 on 16, only to see Inverell rally and lead the Yamba pair by 6 shots, 17-11 with 2 ends to go.
A two on the next for Yamba meant they needed four to force an extra end. They held that four, only to see the opposing skip sneak into the head for the crucial 4th shot to make the final score 17-16 Inverell’s way. What a heartstopper by this gritty and talented Yamba duo.
After that excitement, the Maclean team did battle the next day, also at South Tamworth, against Carlingford. Callie’s ladies had it tough from the outset, finding themselves down 4-13 after nine ends.
But from here they showed their true fighting spirit and dug in to play some fantastic bowls and win the next four ends, drawing level 13 all on 13. But they stumbled on the 14th and despite a never say die effort, and a late fight back went down 24-17.
It has been an exciting, if delayed. culmination to the 2021 season, but these titles have concluded with the teams representing Clarence District doing us all proud.
District President Denise McLachlan, who was at every one of the games across both venues to support the teams, has expressed her congratulations and thanks to all these ladies for the distinction with which they have represented the CRDWBA, the Clubs and themselves.
Wendy Ballantyne