YMGCR BOWLS CLUB
In weekend pennant our A1’s played in the top of the table clash against Wodonga at Wodonga and came away licking their wounds as the home team proved far too strong for us on this occasion. We lost 3/62 to 15/91. The only winner for the day was the rink of new skip Troy Williams who had great support from his front end in Claire Sanders, Greg Green and “JJ” Jones. They won 17/16. In an even contest the biggest margin was 5 shots and YMGCR only surrendered the lead on 1 end. It came down to the last end with their scores level and up stepped “GG” and he played a pearler and that was all folks. Rod Jones rink was in a battle and after 7 ends the scores were even 7/7. Wodonga then reeled of 7 of the next 8 ends to take a handy lead 8/16. YMGCR were holding multiple shots on quite a few ends, only to have the Wodonga skip play great shots not only to save but to convert for them, but they hung in and started to get their rewards and drew 18/18 all. Jim Lefevre struggled all day and if not for a couple of 6’s the result could have been very ugly. They lost 20/27. Scott Widdison rink couldn’t handle the tricky rink and they went down 7/30. We still sit on top of the ladder and next week we must regroup as we travel to 3rd place side Wangaratta for a must win contest.
In the A2’s we had the same situation where YMGCR (2nd) played top dog Wodonga at home. This time YMGCR prevailed and came away with a very good win 16/91 to 2/70. Rob Hummel’s rink had an even battle until they picked up a 6 on the 11th end to take a handy lead and then backed up winning the next 3 ends to go out to a match winning lead 21/8. They won 30/15. Allen Goudge’s rink got back on the winner’s list after last week’s loss and after a good start they then pulled away to score another good win getting over the line 21/11. Makes a difference when the whole rink is putting bowls in the head, but Goudgie is in a purple patch at the moment and he is playing great bowls when his side needs them. Gary Presnell made his debut as a skip in the A2’s and after a slow start then played solid bowls and his rink won 25/17. With the rink trailing 6/12 after 11 ends our 3rd was chatting to Wodonga’s 2nd and he said their lead didn’t like short ends……..WHAT !!!! We won the next end, went short and won 8 of the next 10 ends. “Grumpy” Loveridge was never in the game but they held it together and went down 15/27.
Last week “Sugar” Ray copped a bit of stick due to his wrong bias and this week we had another. This time it was Ray Brown who was the culprit…..karma is a b****. I didn’t think it was news worthy but the team insisted that everybody knew. This has now put us on top of the ladder.
The A4’s travelled to Rutherglen and with 2 rinks dominating they won 14/90 to 4/67. Doddy’s rink had a unbelievable start winning the first 16 ends in a row and led 30/0. They must have lost interest when they eventually lost an end and won 33/9. Bill Jenkins is the inform skip as he and his rink had another fantastic win 31/9. In an even effort from Essex, Lloydy and L. Baxter they led 13/9 after 12 ends and then went on a scoring spree winning the next 9 ends. Bob Evans was all square after 7 ends but the Rutherglen rink then kicked away and won 24/15. Ian Morffew’s rink was well in the fight and only trailed by 1 after 10 ends but fell away badly and lost 25/11. They are still sitting 2nd on the ladder.
B2’s played Yarrawonga at home and against a pretty good outfit lost 2/45 to 12/75. Billy Butterworth’s rink got the only points for the day with a come from behind win 18/17. Gavin Borwick’s rink never got into the game and lost 16/31 and Neville Coleman had the same problem and lost 11/27.
This week “RINK OF THE WEEK “goes to Doddy, Les Wilson, Les Balfour and Barb Tennyson.
Midweek pennant had the top of the table battle with last year’s Premiers Wangaratta. The game was played on our second green and it ran beautifully. The Wang team had a few guns out but you can only beat who is on the green and so it was YMGCR winning 14/65 to 0/47. Laureen Smith’s rink had an early battle and after 6 ends the scores were 6 all. Wangaratta then won a couple of ends to take a nice lead. Then Garry Sanders played a great bowl and trailed the jack back and YMGCR got a 6. The game then opened up with YMGCR picking up 10 shots in 4 ends. Smithy played some big bowls and none was bigger than when she was 5 shots down only to get the shot. She won 25/16. Anne Miles drew Wang’s top skip and after a slow start got 11 shots in 4 ends to lead 14/5. She never surrendered the lead again but the Wang rink got to 21/17 after 19 ends but Anne went on to win 23/18. “JJ” Jones lead from start to finish but they dropped 9 shots in the last 7 ends and won 17/13.
The A2’s played Benalla at home and went down 0/56 to 14/66. Danny McNeill had a very slow start and after 5 ends trailed 0/8, before they got back in the game with a 4 but couldn’t get any closer. They hung in there and won the last 4 ends to just go down 17/20. Goudgie also got off to a slow start and trailed 1/10 after 7 ends and things didn’t get any better. 7/17 down and then the wheel started to turn and after 20 ends they trailed 19/21, but they lost 19/22. Bob Evans rink got a better start, but losing 7 ends in a row makes it very hard and they trailed 5/15. They then got a couple of 4’s to get them right back in the game but all that good work was for nothing when they dropped 7 shots in the next 2 ends. They then peeled off 4 ends to get within 2 shots with 2 ends to go, but they lost 20/24. It is amazing that the team is on the bottom of the ladder as they have showed repeatedly that they are right around the mark and with a little bit of luck they could do some damage if they make the finals.
The A3’s went to Benalla and lost 12/73 to 2/47. Ian Morffew’s rink picked up a 4 on the first end and that set the tone for the rest of the day. They only lost 6 ends for the game and won 29/14. Ron Lamson’s rink got off to a bad start and never got into the game and they lost 10/30 and unfortunately Gavin Borwick had the same trouble and he lost 8/29.
On Thursday YMGCR hosted the O&M Over 60’s Ladies Singles Championship and in great news, we have Anne Miles and Claire Sanders in the last 4, but unfortunately the will play each other in the semi final. They will play off next Thursday at Club Mulwala at 9:30. Also last Thursday we had the O&M Men’s Over 60’s Singles and in more good news we have two men in the final four and they are Garry Sanders and Ian Price, but once again they have to play each other (who does the bloody draw). They will also be at Club Mulwala next Thursday and they will also start at 9:30.
On Sunday we had our up and coming star in Ian Febey playing in the O&M Novice Men’s Singles Championship and he is through to the final which will be played at Chiltern next Sunday starting at 9:30 am.
Also, on Sunday we have the “Golden Child” Micky Vaughan through to the final four in the O&M Men’s Singles Championship and he will play his semi at Benalla next Sunday starting at 9:30 am. Claire Sanders will be at the same venue as she has qualified in the O&M Ladies Singles and her game will also start at 9:30. So, if you are not doing anything on Thursday and Sunday go and support your club mates.