Yamba bowlers finally had the opportunity to play Pennant after more than 12 months of no Pennant play due to COVID and the recent floods.
On Saturday, the Grade 3 side travelled to Grafton District Services Club (GDSC) to test their skills against a talented opposition and on a vexing surface. Unfortunately, the Yamba crew collectively came up short with only Graham Meany and his side of Steve Jackson, Rod Madden and Peter Forrester tasting victory. The final score was 62 shots to 53 for a nine point to one win for GDSC.
The Grade 4 side took the trip to Iluka full of enthusiasm and very nearly came away with a win. The Ray Schafer and Terry Johnson skipped sides recorded wins but unfortunately the team lost the master board by 54 shots to 48 to go down by eight points to two.
The Grade 5 Gold side took full reward from their home green advantage against Iluka to record a solid 69 shots to 55 (ten points to nil) victory, although all three sides faded badly late in the encounter to almost give the game away.
The Grade 5 Blue brigade went to South Grafton Ex-Services as a bit of an unknown quantity and came away feeling well pleased with their performance following a very satisfying 75 shots to 56 (8.5 points to 1.5) victory.
The Grade 7 squad enjoyed their road trip to Red Rock much more than their game going down by 70 shots to 53 on the master board for a ten point to nil loss.
Sunday promised another great day of bowls and another measure of challenges for our Pennant players.
The Grade 3 side enjoyed the bye allowing time to ponder the challenge of the remainder of the season.
Grade 4 were at home against Maclean who are the benchmark for the grade. The Yamba team came within a whisker of causing an upset eventually going down by three shots (57 to 54) on the master board (nine points to one) in an entertaining and high calibre clash.
The Grade 5 Gold side were again at home, this time against South Grafton Ex-Services and in a full team effort came away with a 68 shots to 55 (ten points to nil) victory to place them at the top of the ladder following two rounds of competition.
The Grade 5 Blue side were again on the road this time to cross-river rivals, Iluka. The ‘blue brigade’ tried gallantly to reproduce their form from the previous day, but their opposition were not as forthcoming with Iluka taking the contest, nine points to one, with Chris Gunning and his side of Keith Smith, Gary Taylor and Len Yeomans the only combination to taste success.
Grade 7, at home against Maclean, were determined to secure a victory and this they did. Steve Farrar, Raff Ritale, Peter McGruer and skip, Steve Grodzki, set the platform with a comprehensive 31 shots to 15 rink win. The final score was Yamba 64 to Maclean 41 (9.5 points to 0.5).
Pennants will continue next Saturday with Grade 3 at home to South Grafton Ex-Services in a must win encounter; Grade 4’s season is also on the line when they travel to GDSC; the two Grade 5 sides do battle for local bragging rights; and Grade 7 will keep their Grade 4 clubmates company at GDSC in their own quest for back-to-back wins.