YMGCR BOWLS CLUB
Weekend Pennant ….. well 26th March 2022 will go down in the club history as the end of the big drought. We finally broke through for our first A1 CHAMPIONSHIP. What a day, playing our arch enemies the great Wodonga Club, YMGCR came away with a fantastic victory 74/67 played on the beautiful Corowa RSL greens.
Scott Widdison rink of lead Gary Presnell, second “Sugar” Ray Irvine and third Mick Szabo had bowls in the head from the first end but was unable to keep them with the Wodonga skip getting his side out of trouble and after 11 ends YMGCR trailed 4/10 ….. but then a change came over the game. Pressa lead beautifully all day and was well backed up by Sugar and Szabs and the enthusiastic skip Scotty Widdison played some magic bowls and suddenly the whole demeanour changed of not only his rink but also the other three rinks. From the 11th end Widdison’s rink won the next seven ends straight and took a commanding lead 16/10. They finished off a great day to win the last 2 ends to win 18/11.
Ryan “Disco” Davies rink lead for twenty ends out of the twenty-one. Disco’s rink of Stuart McNeill, Greg Green and Claire Sanders started out very strong, but when you play one of the O&M best skips in Mason Bayliss he will always be in the game and you never feel safe. After the 5th end Wodonga took the lead 3/4 and then Disco’s rink got on top to drew away to lead 11/4. Then Wodonga picked up a 4 and followed up with another 2 to trail 11/10, but on the 12th end YMGCR broke the game wide open picking up a 6. Wodonga got a two on the next end, but Disco took the game out of Wodonga’s reach winning the next four ends and winning 22/16. Claire who had a blinder had bowls in the head all day and was well supported by Greg who was always around the mark and Stewie and Disco played telling bowls in very important times of the game.
Jimmy Lefevre rink of Rod Jones, Andy Lefevre and Garry Sanders drew world champion Kylie Whitehead and got an early jump, but after five ends scores were level with four a piece. The next three ends Jim was holding really good multiple shots only to be denied by the world champ, but they were only picking up singles and they lead 7/4. Finally, the tide started to turn and with Sanders giving the rink a consistent start and with great support from Andy and the rink’s best bowler Roddy Jones (I was told that from a reliable source….one Rod Jones) they pegged them back to lead 8/7 but Wodonga rallied again picking up five over the next two ends. Jim picked up a two to be three shots down, then each team picked up a three. Then Jimmy hit the go button and the rink won three out of the last four ends to pull off a magnificent win against a top rink and YMGCR won 20/17. By the way Rod Jones did bowl very well.
The rink of Les Spencer, Ken Widdison, “Snodger” Lowrie and the new “Golden Child” Micky Vaughan started slowly and trailed 2/8 after five ends, but they won the next three to trail 7/8 and get back into the game. On the fourteenth end YMGCR drew level on 13/13 all but Wodonga rallied again and came away to win 23/11.
Thanks to all the supporters from our club and the other Yarrawonga Clubs who made the effort to get behind our team. The noise and the energy were fantastic and I know the team really did appreciate it.
This win is not only a triumph to the sixteen bowlers who were on the green representing YMGCR but to all the people behind the scenes. Ian Morffew not only does the refreshments for all the buses every Saturday morning but with Marie and his merry group of helpers he organises the BBQ’s and any other functions we have. To the most popular people in the club who everyone loves……. THE SELECTORS, these people are on a hiding to nothing every week and people take it personal when all they try to do is the best for the teams. To Les Balfour and his group of highly trained bus drivers, thanks for getting all of our team mates around the region safely.
Midweek Pennant Preliminary Final produced another top game with the game always in YMGCR grasp winning 58/51. However, with 3 ends to play the game was on a knife edge with Wodonga making their move and holding 4 shots. Miles played the bowl of the season to draw second shot and kept the lead to 6 with two ends to go. Anne Miles rink were in a tight battle and after twelve ends YMGCR led 11/10. They then went on a winning run winning the next 5 ends to go to a 19/10 lead and they won 21/13. Stuart McNeill jumped out early getting a 5 on the second end and after 7 ends led 11/4. YMGCR got out to a 9 shot lead several times. Wodonga made a late run to close within 4, but the rink settled to win 22/16. Garry Sanders rink started out slowly and was 2/5 down, picking up a 3 to tie the game, but Wodonga won the next 5 ends to lead 5/10. YMGCR came back to take the lead 13/10 and when they looked like taking control Wodonga went on a scoring rampage to go to a 13/22 lead, but the rink won the last two ends to lose 15/22.
Wednesday Social Bowls had 24 players and we had three 2 game winners. Runners up with +13 were Norm Windebank and “T-Bone” Tony Durkin. The winners with a +15 were two of our favourites in “Dougie Boy” McTier and Billy Butterworth. Les Balfour won the lucky number and Cat got 2nd prize. Jackpot failed to go off. It will be close to $100 next week so get your name down to have a chance.
Friday Social Bowls had 32 bowlers and the winners were “T-Bone” Durkin and Evans and the runners up was Mick Reilly and good old Grumpy Loveridge and third went to Ross Lloyd and Les Wilson.