BOWLS
By TARA SHAW
Twelve of our bowlers travelled to Condobolin on the weekend to try their luck in the Condobolin 2025 Centre State Triples Tournament.
The competition was fierce across the 30 teams that competed over a two-day, six-games tournament. Unfortunately they didn’t bring home the winners trophy but they gave it their best.
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
Mixed pairs are in full swing.
Kelly Stringer and Jax Murphy played Billy Cowell and Cherie Vincent.
Kelly playing her first club championship leading for Jax who was coming off a Major Fours Championship win proved that it all comes down to the day no matter your experience. 7 all on 9 this was shaping up to be anyone’s game until Kelly and Jax picked up 2 3’s and a 6 to lead the board 19-7.
Kelly and Jax were a well-oiled machine and sprinted to the finish line taking a 29-12 win to advance to the next round.
A close game that came down to the last end on Saturday for Kerry Roach leading for Lyall Strudwick when they played Sue Smith and Dale Scott.
Kerry and Lyall scored the first runs on the board but Sue and Dale didn’t take long find their rhythm. Kerry and Lyall leading 11-7 on 10 until the board was levelled on 13 11 a piece.
End for end the score was 18-16 going into the last in favour of Kerry and Lyall, Sue and Dale picked up 1 on the last but couldn’t quite get over the line. Kerry and Lyall winning 18-17.
Minor fours: Defending the last year's title as 2024 Minor Fours Winners were Ange Dwyer, Jason Howell, Billy Cowell and John Gortong against Bobby Grant, Jax Murphy, Al Phillips and Geoff Brown.
The scoreboard did not reflect the game with each end a great battle. Great bowls from both teams but the defending champs couldn’t quite get it over the line and Team Brown took the win 27-16.
SOCIAL BOWLS
Wednesday bowls – Two who enjoy the ‘top end’ during winter chasing a piece of warmth combined expertly last week to be card draw winners with lead Gail McKay and skip Peter Barnes winning 20-14 in 20 ends over Wayne Wright and Billy Cowell. 5-all after six, 13-all after 14 before the travellers put the foot down winning the run home over seven ends 7-1.
Runners-up, only just 18-17 also in 20, were Sue Smith and Peter MacKay playing Geoff West and Paul Doust, two more just back from burning the bitumen. How close do you want it, 3-ll after three, 10-11 after 11, 16-all after 17 then 17-all with one end to play. The rest is history for Sue and Peter best under pressure.
Barry White and Laurie Crouch won 27-11 in 20 over Phil Hocking who brought his grand-daughter Harmony along for her first game. Harmony showed plenty to suggest the club has another player to fill the void in ladies bowls.
Twenty games was popular with Phil Bayley and Kerry Roach winning 20-10 over Lyn Simmonds and Ross Williams. Close early, 6-5 after seven before Phil and Kerry shot away scoring freely only dropping four ends winning them 14-5.
Cherie Vincent and Scott McKellar cruised along winning 22-15 over Cheryl Hodges and Kerry Dunstan leading 13-4 after 10 of 20. A couple of threes helped Cheryl and Kerry a bit of creditably late.
Leslie Dunstan and Lyall Strudwick showed no mercy late playing Max Vincent and Barry Shine winning 21-11. They dominated late after 11-all at the end of 15 with the Eugowra connection flying the white flag in the last five of 20 ends.
The only game not 20 ends had Angela Dent and Sue White winning 16-15 in 16 over Ann Nixon ad Jeff Nicholson. It didn’t look good down 8-15 after 13 to score a three, a four and single on the last three ends for the one shot win. In-club Ann MacKay and Don Craft.
Thursday bowls: 20 players took to the greens on Thursday afternoon.
Harmony and Phil Hocking drew Dennis Byrnes and Dale Scott. Dennis and Dale won 22-10.
Ange Dwyer and Mitch Andrews had a 26-13 win over Jason Howell and Don Craft.
A visitor to town Rob McArtney lead for Christian West in their 18-16 victory over Ron Thurlow and Laurie Crouch.
Leonie McArtney and Wayne Burton won by 8 points against Sue White and Bobby Grant 24-16.
Wayne Wright and Glen Kearney gelled well together in their 21-16 win over Tara Shaw and Scooter Andrews.
Resting Touchers: Sue White, Wayne Burton, Tara Shaw, Glen Kearney and Dale Scott.
Raspberries: Leonie McArtney and Harmony.
Winning Rink: Wayne Wright and Glen Kearney. Losing Rink: Tara Shaw and Scooter Andrews.
Jackpot winner: Dale Scott.
Sunday bowls: Second round of the T & M Tyres Challenge saw 36 bowlers contributing valuable points to the progressive scores over the 3 week challenge.
Sid Walker and Lyall Strudwick we unfortunate in their game against Daryl Burley and John Cutler. Final score 12-10.
Eddie Gould and Dale Scott had the largest margin of the day 24-4 against Grub Reilly and Gary Reilly.
Ange Dwyer and Terry Murphy won 10-5 against Wayne Wright and Max Vincent.
Eight points the difference for Tara Shaw and Shayne Staines’ victory over Bobby Grant and Dennis Byrnes.
Rob McArtney and Al Phillips had a great win 18-8 when they drew Dick Sharkey and Cliff Nelson.
The boys, Ron Thurlow and Peter Tisdell, had bragging rights when they had a 19-8 win over the girls, Trish Todd and Cherie Vincent.
Kelly Stringer and Billy Cowell were a dynamic duo when they drew Peter Greenhalgh and Posso Jones. Kelly and Billy came away with the win 19-9.
Jax Murphy tried his hand at skip for lead Juss Scifleet in their 16-8 win over Peter Mackay and John Kennedy.
Last card of the day was played by Trent Tyne and Daniel Tisdell coming away with a 22-9 win over Wally and Jason Howell.
Winning rink: Trent Tyne and Daniel Tisdell. Losing Rink: Grub and Gary Reilly.
Resting touchers: Shayne Staines and Wayne Wright. Raspberries for wrong bias: Ange Dwyer, Dennis Byrnes and Peter Mackay.
Jackpot winner: Daniel Tisdell.
Chicken raffle winners: Ange Dwyer, Peter Cook, Daryl Burley, Jax Murphy, Mark Higgins x 2, Al Phillips, Posso Jones, Juss Scifleet.
The last round of the T & M Tyres Challenge will be played next Sunday with a presentation following the normal draw format.