Sports
Yamba Minor Pairs Champions decided
Harry Ward and Bruce Blanch have captured the 2015 Minor Pairs Championship with an outstanding display of controlled aggression and accurate draw bowling. The ‘Hitman’ and ‘Basher’ were the form team of the championship and their form improved steadily as the opposition became more difficult.
In the final Harry and Bruce were up against the experienced duo of Ivan Bell and Denis Ford. Ivan and Denis earned their place in the final with a sequence of devastating results that saw them defeat many of the favoured teams in the championship. However, from the very moment that Bruce delivered the first bowl of the final it was clear that Ivan and Denis would be in for a very tough afternoon. Harry capitalised upon Bruce’s rich vein of form and had the luxury of playing insurance bowls rather than having to find shots. Bruce and Harry established a clear lead on the score board and, more importantly, dominance on the mat that made life difficult for their opposition. Ivan and Denis battled valiantly and tried every shot in their arsenal in an attempt to stem the flow of shots against them. Mid way through the match the score board had Bruce and Harry leading comfortably ten shots to four.
Try as they may, Ivan and Denis struggled to gain a sequence of ends and by the conclusion of the fifteenth end the score board reflected a fourteen shot advantage to Bruce and Harry (18 shots to four) and with little evidence of the pattern of the match changing. Ivan and Denis rallied for one more surge and this time they made headway. The possibility of an upset started a murmur through the crowd of spectators. Ivan and Denis were on a roll; they won the next five ends and needed a six on the final end to force the match into an improbable extra end. Bruce and Harry played close to the perfect defensive end of bowls and although they conceded a shot to their courageous opposition, the ‘Odd Couple’ prevailed and took the title 18 shots to 13 in a very entertaining dual.
The nomination sheets for the 2015 Major Triples and Mixed Fours Championship are on the notice board.
The Tweed Heads Social Bowling Club visited the Club on Saturday 12th September for a great day of mixed bowls. A total of 60 bowlers took to the greens and the fun commenced from the very first end. The added incentive of a nip of port or a chocolate for any ‘toucher’ ensured a high standard of play and an even higher level of enjoyment. Thanks to Bob McKibbin and ‘Maz’ Mazoudier for their assistance on the day.
The next visits will be by the Queensland Railway Institute Social Bowls on Sunday 11th October and the Park Beach Pirates the following Sunday, 18th October. Participation sheets are on the notice 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 were:
Wednesday 9th September:
Winners: Ron Buchholz and Peter Glover. Runners Up: Vern Nielsen and Des Bowman. Consolation: Garry McCabe and Denis Ford Friday 11th September:
Winners: Ivan Bell, Andy Duke-Yonge and Stuart Bell. Runners Up: David Coupland, Jim Groom and Denis Ford. Consolation: Vic Miller, Bruce Blanch and Steve Burns
Don Freeman