The stage is set for a thrilling finale to the Yamba Women’s Bowling Club Major Singles Championship, with four quality players vying for the top honour in the club for 2015. The semi-finals on Tuesday February 9 will have seen Kaye Mason, last year’s r/up, take on Catherine Aitchison in one game, while Chris Cole will do battle with Helen Atchison.
The final on Thursday 11 is shaping up to be a high quality display of singles bowls. In the previous rounds, Kaye had a comfortable win over Judy Abbott in the first round, and met Wendy Ballantyne in the quarters. Wendy also had a good win over Denise Burey in her first game. After a very even start to the game, Wendy took the upper hand scoring 9 shots in 6 ends to lead 18-12 on 18 ends. Kaye hung in and drew one on the 13th, got onto long ends and played beautifully, including a couple of match saving conversion shots near the end, to deservedly take out the game 25-20, when she snared a 3 on the final end. Her opponent in the semi, Catherine Aitchison, had a bye in round 1 and met Judy Button in the quarter final. Catherine skipped out to an early lead 7-4. But Judy steadied, getting her nose in front 15-14 after 19 ends. Then Catherine surged to a 24-17 lead, taking 6 of the next 8 ends. As ever, Judy dug deep and got it back to 24-21 before Catherine played a terrific bowl to get that sometimes elusive final shot and take out the match 25-21. Helen Atkinson had a real battle too in her quarter final against Judy Sinclair. Despite a strong start by Helen to lead 10-2, Judy hit back determinedly taking 5 consecutive ends to be only 10-9 down on 11 ends.
Helen again took over, and with a couple of multiples stretched it out to 21-9, but Judy had other ideas, and just as she did in the Minor Consistency final which she won, lifted her game and got it back to 20-24. Helen saw off the challenge and won 25-20. In her first game, Judy had another really difficult game against Ruthie Fletcher. There was never more than a shot or two the difference, and in fact after 26 ends it was 20-all. Judy finished the stronger though, and despite Ruthie leading 22-20, took the last three ends to win 25-22. Helen’s first game was less dramatic as she led from the start and despite Gloria Davis’s best efforts was not headed to take out a comfortable win. Her opponent in the semi, Chris Cole faced Joan Scadden in her quarter final, and got off to a flying start to lead 6-0 after 4 ends. Joan fought back and took the lead herself 9-7. But then Chris poured on the pressure, and won all but 2 of the remaining ends to record a good 25-13 victory. Both these ladies had close first round games, though. Joan was up against Dot Gleeson. After an even start, Joan picked up a couple of multiples though and went out to a good lead, 14-5 on 11 ends. Dot drew on her experience to fight back though and reduced the margin to just 4 after 15. But Joan’s determination saw her through in the end and she came away with a 25-19 victory. Chris also had to fight off a comeback in her game against Judy Pryor. Chris had another flying start, leading 10-1 after 5 ends, and she slowly stretched this to 16-8 after 14 when Judy dug in, getting back within 4 shots by the 24th end, 20-16. But Chris asserted herself and eventually took the game 25-18. It is encouraging to see the good numbers on the greens for social bowls, too. On Tuesday 2, Lucky Rink winners Sonia Graham, Ros Hippisley and Helen Scott defeated Consolation winners, Gwen Hoskin, Bev Shatte and Carol Casement. Then on Thursday, a similar scenario evolved with the Lucky Rink winners, Margaret Durante and Wynne Bell also defeating the Lucky Consolation winners, Lily Medhurst and Beryl McConnell. Reminders for members include the practice sessions beginning on Friday February 12 at 10am for all in the Pennant teams which were announced last week, that District entries close with the secretary on Tuesday March 2, and finally that entries for the Championship Fours close soon.
Wendy Ballantyne Sports
Yamba Women’s Bowls
The stage is set for a thrilling finale to the Yamba Women’s Bowling Club Major Singles Championship, with four quality players vying for the top honour in the club for 2015. The semi-finals on Tuesday February 9 will have seen Kaye Mason, last year’s r/up, take on Catherine Aitchison in one game, while Chris Cole will do battle with Helen Atchison.
The final on Thursday 11 is shaping up to be a high quality display of singles bowls. In the previous rounds, Kaye had a comfortable win over Judy Abbott in the first round, and met Wendy Ballantyne in the quarters. Wendy also had a good win over Denise Burey in her first game. After a very even start to the game, Wendy took the upper hand scoring 9 shots in 6 ends to lead 18-12 on 18 ends. Kaye hung in and drew one on the 13th, got onto long ends and played beautifully, including a couple of match saving conversion shots near the end, to deservedly take out the game 25-20, when she snared a 3 on the final end. Her opponent in the semi, Catherine Aitchison, had a bye in round 1 and met Judy Button in the quarter final. Catherine skipped out to an early lead 7-4. But Judy steadied, getting her nose in front 15-14 after 19 ends. Then Catherine surged to a 24-17 lead, taking 6 of the next 8 ends. As ever, Judy dug deep and got it back to 24-21 before Catherine played a terrific bowl to get that sometimes elusive final shot and take out the match 25-21. Helen Atkinson had a real battle too in her quarter final against Judy Sinclair. Despite a strong start by Helen to lead 10-2, Judy hit back determinedly taking 5 consecutive ends to be only 10-9 down on 11 ends.
Helen again took over, and with a couple of multiples stretched it out to 21-9, but Judy had other ideas, and just as she did in the Minor Consistency final which she won, lifted her game and got it back to 20-24. Helen saw off the challenge and won 25-20. In her first game, Judy had another really difficult game against Ruthie Fletcher. There was never more than a shot or two the difference, and in fact after 26 ends it was 20-all. Judy finished the stronger though, and despite Ruthie leading 22-20, took the last three ends to win 25-22. Helen’s first game was less dramatic as she led from the start and despite Gloria Davis’s best efforts was not headed to take out a comfortable win. Her opponent in the semi, Chris Cole faced Joan Scadden in her quarter final, and got off to a flying start to lead 6-0 after 4 ends. Joan fought back and took the lead herself 9-7. But then Chris poured on the pressure, and won all but 2 of the remaining ends to record a good 25-13 victory. Both these ladies had close first round games, though. Joan was up against Dot Gleeson. After an even start, Joan picked up a couple of multiples though and went out to a good lead, 14-5 on 11 ends. Dot drew on her experience to fight back though and reduced the margin to just 4 after 15. But Joan’s determination saw her through in the end and she came away with a 25-19 victory. Chris also had to fight off a comeback in her game against Judy Pryor. Chris had another flying start, leading 10-1 after 5 ends, and she slowly stretched this to 16-8 after 14 when Judy dug in, getting back within 4 shots by the 24th end, 20-16. But Chris asserted herself and eventually took the game 25-18. It is encouraging to see the good numbers on the greens for social bowls, too. On Tuesday 2, Lucky Rink winners Sonia Graham, Ros Hippisley and Helen Scott defeated Consolation winners, Gwen Hoskin, Bev Shatte and Carol Casement. Then on Thursday, a similar scenario evolved with the Lucky Rink winners, Margaret Durante and Wynne Bell also defeating the Lucky Consolation winners, Lily Medhurst and Beryl McConnell. Reminders for members include the practice sessions beginning on Friday February 12 at 10am for all in the Pennant teams which were announced last week, that District entries close with the secretary on Tuesday March 2, and finally that entries for the Championship Fours close soon.
Wendy Ballantyne