28 APRIL

It is with regret that the Club has recorded the passing of former member Brian Emmett last Sunday night.

Members stood in silence for Brian and our thoughts are with his family and friends.

A good attendance of 53 bowlers today for the usual Wednesday Nominated Triples competition.

The winners on 26 points were John Parkinson, Andrew Smith and Jason Pictazele.

Andrew and Jason being visitors.

The Lucky Losers on 21 points were John Carey, Paul Carter and Gary Porter.

The Garden Eatery voucher was won by Dennis Wilberforce, lucky man!

1 May

Round 8 of the Newcastle District Pennants competition was played today with mixed results.

Grade 4, playing away at Lemon Tree Passage recorded another convincing win to maintain their unbeaten record thus far.

They lost one match but won the points 9-1 and the master board 73-51.

Grade 5 played competition leaders, Fingal Bay at home and were unsuccessful losing 0-10 and 40-71.

It’s been a dismal season for Grade 5 but there is still time to salvage some pride with a win.

Grade 6 also played at home and have a reputation for not winning there.

They managed that feat again losing to Karuah in a disappointing effort 1-9 and 51-63.

The feature of the round must be the mighty Grade 7 side who played away at Fingal Bay.

I wish I had the space to provide a blow-by-blow description of the game, as given to me, but suffice it to state that it went down to the last bowl on the last end with the master board tied at 54-54.

Chris May was the hero of the day; he was down in the head but managed a toucher to convert the end to one up and take the match 9-1 and 55-54.

The honour of the regiment was maintained!

Next week, Grade 4 are away at Wallsend, Grade 5 are at home to Soldiers Point, Grade 6 are home to Raymond Terrace and the Mighty 7’s are at Nelson Bay.

2 May

There were four games played in the Club Championship Major Pairs today and in contrast to some of the home play yesterday, there were some magnificent bowls to watch.

Graham Reynolds and Mark Nightingale came ever so close to causing an upset with a game that was decided on an extra end.

The more fancied, Chris Ross and Scott Fitzalan were pushed all the way and at the 21st the score was tied at 19-19.

In the extra end Mark managed to remove the jack but it went back to their opponent’s bowl.

Chris and Scott winning 20-19.

A similar high-quality game saw Ross Barry and Danny Johnson beaten by Greg Smith and Stu Dorahy.

They won 21-16.

Geoffrey Muggleton and Dennis Ashbridge had a convincing win over Vic Garlick and Doug Andrews, 28-6 and in the remaining game Ron Green and Jeff Baker went down in another thriller to Neil Kibble and Ron Webster.

The semi-final, when played, will see Fitzalan and Ross play Smith and Dorahy and Muggleton and Ashbridge will take on Kibble and Webster.

Not to be missed!

 

By John SLATER