YMGCR BOWLS CLUB
Midweek Pennant had our A1’s play Yarrawonga at Yarrawonga and on their own track were far too strong for us and we went down 0/42 to 14/76. Our only rink which gave a whimper was Laureen Smith’s rink who lost 19/22. After getting off to a bad start trailing 2/7 after 5 ends they then fought back to get the lead after 9 ends. The scores were level at 14 each with 5 ends to play but Yarra came home stronger to win 22/19. Julian Jones was having his first look at the Yarra green and when he drew Ian Woods, you knew he were going to be in for a tough game and so it was and the Yarra rink was in control all day and won 12/24. Anne Miles rink was never in the contest and they lost 10/30. We still sit 2nd on the ladder and travel to Wodonga next week who need a win to get them back into the four. This is always a hard game.
The A2’s travelled to Corowa Civic who were sitting 2nd on the ladder and in another brave performance got beaten 2/49 to 12/58. Rob Hummel’s rink got a great start to lead 10/1 after 7 ends. Civic being a top side came back strong to pull themselves back into the game and trailed 11/10 after 12 ends. With Vicki Withers leading well and the “Dodman” giving her great support they set up the ends and then Danny McNeill and Rob did what was required from them and they won 20/14. Alan Goudge’s rink was in a battle all day and the game was going down to the wire. Civic got the crucial break when they got to a 13/19 lead with 2 ends to play, but YMGCR was not finish as they picked up a 4 on the 2nd last end. Then the drama took place when the Civic skip went to the mat. She was 4 shots down and calmly played with weight and picked the jack up and put it into the ditch win 17/20…….BUGGER!!!! Kerry Kinnane’s rink got off to a shocking start and trailed 1/13 after 5 ends, but to their credit they hung in to the end and matched it with Civic over the last 16 ends to lose 12/24. On one end they were holding 6 shots only for the Civic skip to play a bomb and turned it into a 2 shot gain……..BUGGER!!!! This now leaves us last on the ladder. We have a tough run home, but we have shown against the 2 top sides (played them in the last 3 weeks) that we are competitive and it is possible.
The A3’s were also at Corowa Civic and they went down 0/40 to 14/62. Lillian Borwick’s rink were never in the lead, but they were always in striking distance and after 10 ends trailed 5/10. They pulled them back to 10/13. Civic then pulled away again but the YMGCR rink won the last 2 ends to go down fighting losing 14/18. Ian Morffew’s rink got a good start 6/2 after 6 ends. They then dropped a 5 and now they were playing catch up. After 19 ends they were 2 shots down and in with a show, but Civic steadied and held them off winning 13/19. Ian Price’s rink were never in the contest early but they never dropped their heads and fought it out losing 13/25.
In Weekend Pennant the A1’s travelled to the very dangerous side in Kiewa at Kiewa (green was running at 18 seconds) and they came away with a workman like effort winning 18/110 to 0/56. They have now cemented their spot in the top 2 on the ladder and next week they travel to Myrtleford for their final hit out before the finals. Jimmy Lefevre’s rink came out firing and after 10 ends led 22/2. Kiewa then won the next 4 ends but our rink then peeled off the last 6 ends to win 35/13. Troy William’s rink also had a flyer and led 17/1 after 6 ends. They were never headed and won 28/12. Good effort because Troy and Julian Jones had never been there before and we all know it can be a tricky surface at the best of times. Scott Widdison’s rink got a 5 on the first end and that set the tone for the rest of the day. They won 28/19. Les Spencer’s rink were in the tight game of the day and there was never a couple of shots between the rinks, but the YMGCR rink then won 6 of the last 9 ends to win 19/12.
The A2’s played fellow finalist Corowa RSL at home. The game was scheduled for Friday night but wiser heads prevailed and it was moved to Saturday. Saturday morning had the selectors working overtime as star player Gary Presnell was a late withdrawal, but we still cannot get out of our form slump and YMCGR lost 0/55 to 18/100. This now puts us 5th on the ladder, but everything has to go our way next week for us to sneak back into the finals. Ray Brown went back to skip and his side was always in the contest and led 14/13 on the 16th end, but the RSL boys got back the lead and they won 23/17. Goudgies rink was trailing 7/8 after 10 ends and was well in the game, but they dropped a 5 on the next end and that took the wind from their sails and RSL then went away and won 23/12. Neil Loveridge’s rink got off to a great start by getting a 5, but the Corowa skip was playing great bowls and they won 27/14. Rob Hummel’s rink was in the game early but they went down 12/27.
The A4’s were in a top of table clash against Swanpool at Swanpool and it is always a tough assignment (with the green running very slow, 10 seconds). We were beaten 0/59 to 18/100. This now puts us 3rd but we are still in with a big show. Swanpool is impossible to beat at home and playing them on a neutral green will bring them back to the field. Doddy’s rink was well in the game and after 12 ends the scores were level at 11 apiece, but from that time on they lost the next 8 ends and went down 15/24. Billy Jenkins rink was well in the contest after getting a 6 on the 16th end to trail 16/17. It’s funny but after getting a big end you often falter and so it was and the Swanpool rink then came home strong to win 25/16. Ian Price was one of the necessary Saturday morning moves and his rink played a mighty game and led 13/7 after 15 ends, but they couldn’t keep the pressure on and fell away to go down 15/23. Ian Morffew’s rink was always there about but couldn’t win that extra end when required and they went down 13/28.
The B2’s played Tungamah at home and went down 2/55 to 12/63. They are 6th on the ladder but can still make the finals if everything goes their way. If they get there anything is possible as they are playing very good bowls at the moment. Gavin Borwick’s rink continues on its winning way. After a slow start they hit the led on the 5th end and then gradually pulled away to score a very good win 26/16. “Niffty” Coleman’s rink were 1 shot down at the half way mark, but they lost the next 5 ends to trail 9/16. The rink fought it out to the finish and went down 17/20. Billy Butterworth’s rink led by 1 after 8 ends but then the Tungamah rink picked up some good numbers as they went on to win 27/12.
This week’s ” RINK OF THE WEEK” goes to Jimmy Lefevre, Rod Jones, Andy Lefevre and Garry Sanders.
On Thursday we had the final of the Ladies Club Pairs between Anne Miles/ClaIre Sanders and Laureen Smith/ Rhonda Irvine. The scores were level on 12 but Smith/Irvine got a 4 to get the break, and after 15 ends they were in control, but Miles/Sanders came back over the last 3 ends to go down by 2 shots losing 15/13.
On Sunday we had the last 2 rounds of the O&M Mixed Pairs Championships and in 1 section we had the YMGCR players in Garry and Claire Sanders, Les Spencer/ Laureen Smith and one of the fancied teams in Anne Miles /Ian Brimblecombe (Wangaratta) and Micky Vaughan/Vicki Withers, and guess what Vaughan/Withers made it through. They have a bye in the next round so they have made it to the last 4…….great effort. Our other team of Bill Jenkins/Lyn Baxter finished 3rd but they had a bye when one team failed to show up. Bill and Lyn missed out on shots up (who knows what would have happened if they played the other team).
In sad news we lost one of our past players in Alex Boak on Thursday. Alex moved over to Club Mulwala with his champion wife Unis in 2013. Both moved into Woods Point a few years ago. Unis passed a few years ago and now Alex will be with his true love once again. He was a very proud Carlton supporter but also had a soft spot for Port Power with his grandson (Travis) being a champion player and captain of the club.