YMGCR BOWLS CLUB
Finally, the Pennant season has got going, with the first round of weekend pennant being cancelled due to the very damp conditions. Midweek started with the A1’s playing cross road rival Club Mulwala at Club Mulwala. Over the last two years this side has pushed us to the limit with a draw two years ago and then last year getting a fantastic win ……this is always a danger game and the side was determined to put their best foot forward and get the season off to a positive start. And that’s what they did with a convincing win 14/82 to 0/35. Anne Miles (fresh from her Victorian duties up on the Gold Coast) rink jumped out of the blocks and took control early and never let the opposition into the game winning 40/10. The rink next door was the complete opposite with Ray Irvine being 0/5 down after 2 ends and then being 1/10 down. They slowly started to inch their way back and squared the game up being 14 all with four ends to play. Then in a blink of an eye they flew home and won 26/14. The star of the rink was Sue Middleton who bowled beautifully all day. Laureen Smith’s rink was in control all day but the Mulwala rink never gave up and fought to the end but lost 16/11.
The A2’s had the hard road trip to Wodonga and they put a great effort losing 2/59 to 12/64. The stars for us were the rink led by Danny McNeill who won 23/15 and they were up against a very good rink. Well done to Marcia McGrillen, Tony Durkin and Marie Morffew. Doddy was in it all day but lost 15/20 and Goudgie went down 21/29.
The A3’s played Wodonga at home and in a very close game lost 2/62 to 12/68. Ian Morffew had a big win 24/14 and it would have been a good learning curve for two new bowlers in Denise Trubiano and Ian Febey to play with one of the great old timers in Dougie McTier. Les Balfour went down 23/28 and Ron Lamson lost 15/26.
Weekend Pennant had the A1’s playing last year’s power house in Wangaratta at home and with a sprinkling of new players the side gelled from the start and came away with a great win 18/100 to 0/56. The stars on the day were “Disco” Davies rink winning 33/13, with a new third in “JJ’ Jones giving him great support and with the front end of Greg Green and Claire Sanders dominating, the rink was in control all day. Just to put a little bit of icing on the win, the rink picked up a seven on the last end. After getting out to a good start, Jimmy Lefevre rink settled in for a good fight and after eight ends they led 7/6 ……then with a new third in Troy Williams they then went on a streak when they won 10 ends to 3 to win 31/13. With Garry Sanders and Andy Lefevre giving them a good foundation, Troy and Jimmy could show their talents with beautiful draw bowls and powerful drives. Newly promoted skipper Rod Jones, after years of self promotion, got his chance and took the opportunity and looked at home. His rink won 17/13 with an even spread across the rink they were always in control. Scotty Widdison rink were in the tight game of the day winning 19/17. After 10 ends they trailed 11/7 but they put the game away winning the next five ends.
The A2’s played Mansfield at home and after 84 ends the teams could not be separated with a 9/80 to 9/80 draw. The stars were the rink of Cat Brincat, “Pinky” Lidgewood, Don Tipping and Peter Lidgerwood who won 30/14. They were in front all day and then went on a scoring frenzy getting 14 shots in the last 5 ends. Ray Brown’s rink were in a battle all day and after 20 ends the sides were level on 17 each. After the Mansfield second drew the shot, Tony Durkin then followed up by sitting him out and Bill Jenkins then drew another to give them the win 19/17. Rob Hummel was in control most of the day but lost 17/21, with his rink going into the last end of the game 2 shots up, but the Mansfield third played two big bowls to get the draw….. unfortunately, Rob just missed with his last bowl, but it was a gusty effort by the rink with two new bowlers in Ian Febey and Col Withers showing that they belong and will add much needed depth to the side. “Grumpy” Loveridge got a good start but the Mansfield rink then got in the groove and went out to a handy lead, but the rink didn’t give up winning 3 out of the last 4 ends to go down 14/28.
The A4’s had the big job playing Yarrawonga at Yarra against a pretty powerful side and in a great result won 14/80 to 4/73. Doddy Dodman rink got out to a good start and maintained it throughout the day, with little Susie Evans leading well and Yarrawonga specialist Mary Essex and new third Liliana Borwick all giving Doddy good support and they won 25/11. Danny McNeill’s rink had a tough battle most of the day until the 17th end when they broke the game wide open with a six and they won 23/15. Danny got great support from Pricey, Ron Lamson and Lyn Baxter until she hurt her back (thank you to Jill Lamson who stepped in to finish off the game). In another tight game Bobby Evans rink was all level after 13 ends but they lost the next 4 ends to trail 20/12 but with true grit they stormed home to lose 19/20. Well done to Pam Dodman, Billy Butterworth (first game in the A4’s and he handled the occasion very well) and Barb Tennyson. Ian Morffew drew a pretty powerful rink and fought it out till the end going down 13/27.
Due to popular demand, we are bringing back “RINK OF THE WEEK” and this week it goes to Anne Miles, Claire Sanders, Rob Hummel and Rhonda Irvine with a 40/10 win.
The 100 up and 21 up championships are coming to an end with finals being played shortly, so keep an eye out for the finals. Also on Sunday the 6th November the 1st and 2nd rounds of the club Men’s and Ladies Singles will be played. Check the notice board for further details.
Wednesday social bowls had 20 players with the runners up being Cat and Barb Tennyson and keeping the money in the family Normie Windebank and Pineapple Baxter got the big coin.
On Sunday YMGCR had two teams play in the Men’s O&M State 4’s and in a fantastic result both got through to the final which will be played at YMGCR in what should be a great spectacle with the quality of bowlers on show…..in one team you have Jimmy Lefevre, Troy Williams, Andy Lefevre and the great one himself ROD JONES versus “Disco” Davies, Scotty Widdison, Les Spencer and Ken Widdison. Do yourself a favour and have a look as it will be very entertaining. The game will be played on Sunday 30th October starting at 9:30 am.
Also in more good news our ladies have also made the final of the Ladies O&M State 4’s. Kylie Whitehead (Wodonga), Anne Miles, Laureen Smith and Claire Sanders will play the final at Wodonga also starting at 9:30 am on Sunday.