YMGCR BOWLS CLUB
In the final round of the Midweek Pennant season, we had the top of the table clash with Wangaratta at Wang. If YMGCR loses they would drop to fourth and lose the double change, so there was a lot at stake. Even with a late change the morning of the game with Sue Middleton withdrawing due to a sore back, this didn’t hinder the side and they won 12/68 to 2/54. The stars for the day were the team of Julian Jones. His rink had a convincing win 33/17. Scores were even early but YMGCR got two 5’s in three ends to jump out to a handy lead. Wang then came back to get within 3 after 9 ends. Yet again we picked up another 5 and steadied to lead 21/9 after 13 ends. Wang made a late charge but YMGCR then got their fourth 5 to wrap up the game. Anne Miles came up against one of the top skips in pennant (Midweek and Weekend) and her Victorian Mixed Championship partner in Ian Brimblecombe and it was a last person standing game. Wang took the lead early and led 10/6 after 13 ends, but Miles came back to draw level on 15 ends. Wang then won the next 3 ends, but the YMGCR rink came home strong to win the last 3 ends to run out winners 16/13. Laureen Smith’s rink got out to a good lead early and in one end were holding 7 shots and the YMGCR skip had the last bowl, but she just missed, and they lead 15/7 after 9 ends. Wang came back to regain the lead and over the last couple of ends came away to win 24/19. This has now set up a mouth-watering rematch next which will be played at Benalla for the chance to go straight into the Grand Final.
In the complete opposite the A2’S travelled to Benalla with the goal of winning to avoid the possibility of relegation. Rob Hummel’s rink set the tone for the day. After a slow start they got to a 12/6 lead after 10 ends. With Doddy playing great shots they then peeled off the next 11 ends straight to win 27/6. Kerry Kinnane’s rink got off to a flyer and raced to a 9/0 lead after only 4 ends. With Sue Evans playing well and putting the Benalla lead under constant pressure, the rink went further ahead to lead 19/5 after 14 ends, but the Benalla rink then won the next 4 ends to get within 6. However it was all too late and they went down 24/14. Allan Goudge’s rink battled hard all day and they slowly pulled away until Benalla then hit back to regain the lead with only 3 ends to go. Not knowing how many points we needed to avoid the dread “R” word, ever point was a must and it came down to the last end with Goudgie 1 shot down on the card. Normie Windebank got the end off to a great start getting one on the jack and it sat there until “Big” Al gave him a friend with his last bowl. The Benalla skip couldn’t change the head and the boys won 17/16. As it turned out the bottom team didn’t score a point. Anyway it was a nice way to finish off the season.
The A3’s played Benalla at home and lost 2/51 to 12/65. Liliana Borwick’s rink lead 13/1 after 7 ends. They also got a 7 (don’t know who’s bowl was not in the count) and they had a convincing win 26/17. What a day Ian Morffew’s rink had. Leading 14/0 after 4 ends and heading for “Rink of the Week” they lost the next 4 ends but then got two 3’s back to lead 20/6. The famous “Porky Pig” once said “That’s all folks”, and so it was as that was the end of Morf’s scoring for the day and they lost 20/23. Ron Lamson’s rink never got into the game, and they went down 5/25.
On Saturday the A1’s travelled to Rutherglen for last year’s Grand Final rematch against Wodonga and they came away with a fantastic win which now propels them into the Grand Final. The last time these two sides met the Wodonga side did a number on us, but the tables were turned and YMGCR won 16/81 to 2/70. Stand in “Super Skip” Rod Jones rink picked up a 4 on the first end and this set the tone for the rest of the day. They got out to a 14/2 lead after 7 end, then dropped the next 3 ends but were always in total control. Wodonga got to within 6 shots after 16 ends, but the YMGCR rink then put the game away by winning the next 4 ends and won 27/12. Les Spencer’s rink led 5/4 after 5 ends. They then won the next 3 ends which included two 4’s which pushed their led out to 14/4. Things just rolled along for a few ends until YMGCR dropped a 7 ……. that got the Wodonga rink right back into the game. YMGCR still led 16/13 after 12 ends. That was the closest they got as YMGCR then took control and won 24/18. Jimmy Lefevre’s rink was in a tight battle early and the scores were level at 5 apiece after 6 ends. YMGCR then got the jump on them and won the next 4 ends to lead 14/5, but the Wodonga rink came back from there to win the next 4 ends to tie the game. On the 19th end YMGCR led 19/18 and all of a sudden, the Wodonga rink was holding 7 shots. Enter young Jim who coolly drew the shot and that was the game. He won 20/18. Scott Widdison’s rink was well in the contest up until the 6th end and led 6/5, but the Wodonga rink then won 5 ends in a row. Scott was bowling well but the rink couldn’t get the momentum back and lost 10/22. Next week’s Preliminary Final between Wodonga and Wangaratta should be a cracker as both encounters this season have resulted in 2 draws.
The A2’s final was played at Club Mulwala against Corowa RSL in the knockout game, and YMGCR lost 16/83 to 2/68. Allan Goudge’s rink led from start to finish winning 18/12. In a very tight game, the first 12 ends were all single shots with Goudgie leading 8/4. YMGCR then got out to a 12/5 lead only to drop a 5 and the game was back on, but the rink settled down and won 4 of the last 5 ends to record a well deserve victory. Neil Loveridge’s rink got out to an early lead and then the RSL got back into the game and led 9/13. “Grumpy” then picked up 8 shots in the next 2 ends to make a mini break. RSL then won the next 4 ends to close the game out 23/19. Gary Presnell’s rink had a bad start being 2/9 down after 8 ends. With the RSL lead playing great bowls and their skip playing every shot in the book, our backs were up against the wall. RSL got out to a 20/9 lead after 15 ends, but the YMGCR rink then won 4 of the last 6 to go down fighting 18/24. Rob Hummel got the worst possible start being 10/0 after only 4 ends. They cut the lead back to 5 shots, but the RSL rink went on to record a comfortable win 13/24. Well done to the A2 side who made the finals for the 2nd year in a row. It is a very hard division because you are playing a lot of the other club’s top side.
The A4’s played Mansfield at Benalla and lost 4/70 to 14/78. Being in the same position as the A2’s the loss has finished their season. “Doddy” trailed 2/7 after 5 ends, and after 13 ends was further in trouble being 8/15 down. They clawed their way back to get within 1 shot with 5 ends to play, and then got onto a roll and won 21/19. Danny McNeill’s rink was nip and tuck with never more than 3 shots being the greatest margin for the day. With 1 end to play YMGCR trailed by 1, but with their never say die attitude, McNeill’s rink got a 2 for the narrowest of margins to win 19/18. Ian Price was well placed after 9 ends being 7/8 down. They then dropped a 5 in two ends and as much as they tried, they couldn’t bridge the gap and went down 16/21. Billy Jenkin’s trailed 0/5 after 3 ends before they got back into the game winning 5 of the next 6 ends to lead 8/6. However Mansfield then won 4 ends in a row to go out to a match winning lead and they went on to win 20/14.
This week’s “RINK OF THE WEEK” is Rob Hummel, Danny McNeill, the “Dodmaster” Albert Dodman and Vicki Withers.
Wednesday Social bowls had a field of 18 players and the winners were Robert Lidgerwood, Tony Durkin and Ian Febey with 2 wins and +21. Runners up with a win and a loss were Les Wilson, Frank Lieberg and Neville Coleman with +4.
On Sunday our Ladies Club Champion, the one and only Anne Miles went to Corowa RSL to play in the O&M Ladies Champion of Champions Semi Final. She ran into a hot opponent in Mary Tragardh who was on fire. Anne was always under the pump and went down fighting 19/25……..great job champ.