Sports
Yamba Women’s Bowls Fours Champions
Fours Champions at Yamba Women’s Bowling Club for 2016 is the team of Val Terry, Wynne Bell, Kaye Mason and Wendy Ballantyne who convincingly won the final on Thursday 3rd March in a great team effort.
Up against the formidable combination of Helen Atkinson, Kerry Pedder, Dot Gleeson and Monica Conlan, Wendy’s team hit their straps early and were never threatened after they collected a 4 on the 5th end to take the lead 8-0. Some deft draw bowls, calculated on shots and consistent team work saw them build a very sound 18-2 lead after 13 ends. They frustrated their opposition’s best efforts at every turn, denying them any opportunity to get back into the game.
Then there were shades of their semi-final (see later notes) when their opponents picked up 7 in 4 ends, but Wendy rallied her troops, and a solid 4 on the 15th saw them steady the ship and lead 26-9 on 19 ends. The final score of 26-10 was indicative of their dominance of the game, and they took out their second Fours Championship in successive years.
But the Champions were very lucky to make the final, as in the semi after leading 16-7 on 17 ends, they inexplicably dropped 12 shots in 4 ends for Denise Burey’s team of Jane Pearson, Ruthie Fletcher and Judy Button to draw level on 17 all after 21 ends and force an extra end. The decision to give the mat away after winning the toss for the extra end proved crucial, as Wendy’s team was two down in the head with one bowl to play when she came up with a perfect bowl to rest the shot bowls out and push the jack just far enough to her team’s catcher to take the game.
By contrast Monica’s team led throughout their semi against Sandy Owen, Ros Moore, Robyn McPherson and Marjorie Thompson, with Dot Gleeson having a particularly strong game not long after returning to Championship bowls. The team combined well, though, and despite a spirited comeback by Marjorie’s team, recorded a comfortable 23-15 win.
In other news, the Queen of the Green title has changed hands twice in the space of a week, with Chris Cole dethroning Catherine Aitchison 25-20 on Tuesday 1st. Chris jumped out to a commanding 13-3 lead in this game until Catherine found some form and the scores stood at 19-13 to Chris. After Chris then led 22-13, Catherine staged a big finish to get it back to 22-20, but Chris was able to prevail over the final two ends.
However on Thursday 3rd, Chris suffered a similar fate. Her challenger, Denise Burey, got off to a flyer to lead 10-4 then 15-6 till Chris got into gear. Then, in a topsy turvey game, Chris won 7 out of the next 8 ends and stormed to a 21-16 lead, only to see Denise strike back to get to 21 all and then go on to snatch the crown, 23-22. Congratulations, Queen Denise!
With Pennant games starting next week and then District events following, the Queen and Princess competitions may be in abeyance for a little while.
In the pennant Competition, Yamba’s twos will host South Grafton on Tuesday 8th, the Threes travel to South Grafton and the Fours play at Iluka. Then on Thursday, two teams will play at home: the Threes will be up against Iluka, and the fours will take on Red Rock. Meanwhile the twos will play Maclean at Maclean.
Lucky rink winners in Social Bowls on Tuesday 1st were Margaret Durante, Ros Hippisley and Carole Casement, with Queen of the Green winner, Chris snaring the lucky runner up money. Consolation winners were Colleen Beard, Jill Miller and Ros Dickson.
Ros Dickson was in the money again on Thursday 3rd when she teamed up with visitor G Cheshire and Judy Button to be the Lucky Rink winners, and Chris Cole as also again a winner, being drawn for the Lucky Consolation prize.
Members are reminded that social bowls will definitely continue throughout Pennants, with Chair of Selection, Sonia, promising some different and very interesting versions of the game for competition during this time.
Wendy Ballantyne