Cobram and Barooga bowls notes

Midweek pennant on Tuesday, February 7 saw both Cobram sides suffer a loss. Cobram (1) hosted Numurkah (1) and ended the day with a rink win, draw and loss and the scoring of four or more on an end proved telling.

Marj McDonald got off to a handy lead after scoring a five-shot end against Ann Dealy, only to have Numurkah do the same a few ends later. After Numurkah hit the front courtesy of four shots on the 16th end, the Tigers dug deep and scored nine shots to two in the run home for a rink win.

On the rink skipped by Glenda Mann against Pam Smith, Numurkah was held scoreless for the first nine ends, but a couple of four-shot ends from Numurkah got them back in the game. This rink was the last off the green and while the game had already been won by Numurkah, it was a battle for rink points.

Tigers were up by two shots going in to the last end, but the best Mann could do with her last bowl was to reduce Numurkah’s score to two shots and end with a rink draw.

On the third rink it was a battle of the Jennys — Warfe for Cobram and O’Connor for Numurkah. Great bowling by Ross Higgins, at third, and their skip restricted Cobram to only scoring single shots per end, while Numurkah won more ends and had multiple shots, including a couple of four-shot ends.

Numurkah is clinging to fourth spot on the ladder, and that position might depend on what happens when Cobram takes on Barooga this Tuesday.

Cobram (2) had to face the in-form Picola team on their home turf. Barb Turner played against the Sue Jamison-skipped team, and Picola piled on the shots in the first seven ends, and then added another 10 shots to Cobram’s seven.

But the Tigers should be proud to have added eight unanswered shots in the final four ends, even though the rink went to the home side.

When Carol Doherty’s four took on Julie Berger’s crew, it took a five-shot end to get Picola in front at end eight, and despite the teams winning equal numbers of ends after that, it was another rink win to Picola.

On the third rink, Brenda Smethurst faced up against Karen Peacock. It was end nine before the Tigers managed to equal the scores, then just kept winning the majority of ends to bring home rink points for Cobram.

Early in the week, the weather forecasts had high 30s predicted for Saturday, so Cobram was proactive and arranged for divisions one, three, four and five to be played as morning games.

Saturday saw not only tricky, windy conditions, but the division one side also had a testing opponent in Numurkah Golf. Top spot was up for grabs for the victor and the valued second chance in the finals series. No game this season has been a lay down misère for any team and this game also had ups and downs.

Ray Parks was up against in-form skip Geoff Sutcliffe and the match-up didn’t disappoint. Either side could have won this battle and many good bowls were delivered. It was the Cobram four who prevailed after 21 ends, scoring the two rink points. Steve Tatnall’s rink was also matched fairly against Mark Jones and his four with a second game which saw both teams spend time in front.

With Jones attempting a rink-saving shot looking for three shots or more with his last bowl of the day failing, Cobram was on the board again with another two rink points.

The day however belonged to Jack Dell’s rink, which handed Dixon’s Tigers a rather forgettable loss, and the overall game. Numurkah Golf now sits atop the ladder but with two rounds remaining, anything could still happen.

Division two travelled to Wunghnu for an afternoon hit-out. Colin McDonald did battle with Rob Rodda. After levelling the scores at end 16, the Tigers went on to outscore Wunghnu six shots to two for the rink win.

Marj McDonald was matched up against Ivan Newby, but the Tigers had the run of the green all game with seven ends won by three shots or more. It was a convincing 18-shot win to the Tigers on this rink.

On the third rink, Tel Pearce played Les Clark. Once again, scoring five shots on end 11 set up a handy nine-shot buffer for the Tigers, but this was whittled back to four shots at the end of the game. But full points to Cobram who remains third on the ladder.

Division three hosted Nathalia. Glenn Murphy was a late withdrawal and Phill O’Dwyer stepped up to skip against Stephen Campbell. Thanks also to Susie Carter for accepting the late call-up.

The Tigers had a handy seven-shot lead at end 15, but were held scoreless for five ends to find themselves heading in to the last end only one shot in front. The Tigers scored on the final end for the rink win.

Laurie Vinecombe’s four took on a rink skipped by Nathalia’s youthful club champion Jack Hutchins. The Tigers had to score 13 shots in three ends to hit the front at end 14. And at end 19 the scores were level. Tigers scored on the final two ends for another rink win.

On the third rink it was the battle of the Peters when Cobram’s Peter Garland faced Peter Hutchins. The Tigers opened their account with five shots on end three, and after scores were level at end six, Garland’s four kept the scorecard ticking over, including scoring 14 unanswered shots in the final seven ends. It was a morale-boosting win for Pedro’s crew and a clean sweep for the Tigers that saw them hit third spot on the ladder.

Although, they’re only there by percentage and sides in positions five and six are only one point behind. The final four will not be known until after the final bowl has been put down on February 25.

Division four travelled to Katandra. Brenda Smethurst’s opposing skip was Phil Henney who was promoted to skip when the starting gun went off. The scorecard shows a tight game up till end 13, often due to some telling bowls by Smethurst to either draw the shot or convert the head. Cobram went into the final end three shots up, but was unable to hold the Kats out from scoring three on that final end, resulting in a rink draw.

On the other rink Glenda Mann played against Kevin Gardner (aka Icey). The first two-thirds of the game belonged to the Tigers with all four bowlers contributing. But then the Kats all found their mojo at the same time and they held the Tigers scoreless for the final five ends.

Going into the final end Cobram needed at least two shots for a draw. Icey added his two bowls to the final head to have the Kats holding four shots and unfortunately Mann was not able to make any change. So game points to Katandra, but Cobram (4) retains top spot on the ladder, by one point.

But it will be a top-of-the-table clash this week, so again the positions of teams in the top four may change.

Division five’s trip to Berrigan produced mixed results for Cobram’s rinks but game points for Berrigan. The scorecard shows that John Taylor’s four found it difficult to win the mat against Glenys McKay and a late flurry by the Curlews with 12 shots in the final four ends made a deficit too big to be covered by the other rink.

On that other rink Luke Quinane played David Woodward. Tigers kept in front on the scoreboard all day, building up to a 14-shot lead at end 15. Berrigan scored the next four ends, but Cobram took this rink by 10 shots. With this loss Cobram lost its top spot on the ladder to Berrigan.

But with two rounds to go, all five of Cobram’s sides are in the top four on their respective ladders. So, it’s a simple equation: everyone has to win their final two games.

Neighbourhood Challenge

Week four saw some movement on the ladder with undefeated teams losing.

Teams that hadn't won collected two wins, with new ladder-leaders and new cellar-dwellers.

And most importantly, it was lots of fun, so come down on a Tuesday evening around 7pm to see what it is all about and enjoy the hospitality at Cobram Bowling Club.

The top four teams are Greens, Gibbo’s Gang, Lindsay Park and Shear Kaos.

Champion of Champions Singles

On Sunday, February 12 in windy conditions Cobram hosted the first two rounds of the Murray Playing Area Champion of Champions Singles.

A good crowd came to support their club champions and to watch them ply their trade under the challenging windy conditions.

At least it was not too hot or too cold, nor was it raining. There were some great bowls played, as well as the occasional rough head, some short games and some marathons.

At the end of the day the semi-finalists have been decided and they will play off at Cobram on Sunday, February 19 from 9.30am.

In the men’s competition, Mick Ryan (Strathmerton) will play Rick Bradbury (Berrigan) and Warren ‘Snowy’ Snow (Katandra West) will play Barry Cosgrove (Wunghnu).

In the women’s draw Nan Smith (Finley) will play Lidija Patching (Numurkah Golf) and Jenny O’Connor (Numurkah) will play Karen Peacock (Picola). All are invited to come and watch the games, and there will be a barbecue available.

The finals of Champion of Champion Singles will be played on Sunday, February 19.

The Champion of Champion Pairs at Cobram starts Sunday, February 26.

A special meeting of bowling members will be held on Wednesday, February 22 at 7pm to consider proposed amended constitution that would have the club aligned with GMBR and BV.

Draw for club fours will be held during Happy Hour on Friday, February 17.

BAROOGA SPORTS BOWLS CLUB

Another great week of pennant for the club.

Midweek division one had a win against Finley with two rinks up and a draw but unfortunately so did Numurkah who we are one point behind and they are keeping the club out of the four.

This Tuesday will be exciting and important for Barooga to finish the season off with a big win in division one and hopefully make it into the four. Division two hopefully will also finish off with a win.

Tuesday is the final round of midweek pennant and, as per tradition, there is a midweek pennant players dinner to be held Tuesday night at 6pm at the Grand Central Hotel.

All players that participated in midweek pennant should by now have been contacted however if you have been missed and would like to attend, contact Karen Bruce immediately.

Saturday pennant had three divisions up, which is very good as the club now has for certain two divisions in second place on the ladder and division one has a chance to make it into the four.

Division one defeated Katandra West, division two defeated Numurkah and division three defeated Tocumwal and went all the way up to second on the ladder. Division four unfortunately lost to Wunghnu with one rink up and one down.

Last Thursday the trade day was at Tocumwal and Peter Velardo and team won the day; second was Gary Seamer and his team from Berrigan.

Best first-game winners were Gary Murnane and team from Barooga, best second-game winners were John Sullivan and team also from Barooga, best third-game winners were Ian Cameron and team from Tocumwal and best fourth-game winners were Alan Vinecomb and team from Cobram.

The jackpot did not go off so it will be available this week at Barooga to win.

Keith's Friday winners were Gavan Cullen and Jen Jennings with +15; runners-up were Quentin Pettit and Ray Wright with +11.

There were strange things happening with the best first and second-game winners. Archie Ellis and Geoff Brentnall won best first-game with one up and best second-game went to Ruth Burnett and Joan Boyer with two shots up.

The match committee is looking for more entries in the 21-up club event which has a closing date of February 17; with the first round to be played on or before March 1.

The women have an event called "Ladies’ choice" wherein women select two players to play triples on Sunday, April 2, one player from division one or two and one player from division three or four. Chaps, if you get asked to play please make every effort to attend and enjoy a Sunday game of bowls followed by a "high tea".

Bowlers have been reminded about the special meeting on Wednesday at 4pm. Please make sure you attend.

The club had its two champions playing in the Murray Bowls Champion of Champions on Sunday at Cobram in a day that was not helpful for good bowling as the conditions made it hard to play.

Ruth Burnett lost her match against Lidija Patching and Jim Townsing went down to Barry Cosgrove after being 23-all. The finals will be played at Cobram next Sunday.