GARFIELD BOWLS
MIDWEEK PENNANT
The bowls week started last Tuesday when the Division-3 Midweek side went to visit far-away Yinnar.
It was a close game on two rinks, but a loss on the third saw Garfield come out losers by 57 shots to 64 – almost an exact reversal of the first week.
The rink of Wes Goodman, Judy Pocklington, Gordon Moxey and Lexi Taylor were up by three shots after the first end of play, and then see-sawed all afternoon. With four shots on the second-last end, Garfield was only one shot behind with a chance to win the game, but Yinnar scored one on that end and Garfield lost by 20 shots to 22.
Maureen Lamport’s rink, consisting of Malcolm Newham, Peter Stansfield and Bob Lamport, started slowly and were down by eight shots after nine ends; a breakout of seven shots on the next two ends gave them the momentum to go on and finish the game with a good win by 22 shots to 19.
The team of Damian Brick, Gillian Harper, Barry Johnson and skip Sue Stansfield fought out a close battle with their opponents early, to be seven shots all after eight ends. Although they won almost as many ends after that, the number of shots was less and they lost by 15 shots to 23.
This loss has dropped them to fifth on the ladder, and a home match against ladder leaders Newborough next week will be a good indicator for the season ahead.
SATURDAY PENNANT
The Division-3 side was away on Saturday at Traralgon.
A couple of squeakers, a small loss, and a good win saw Garfield bring home the bacon, winning overall by 96 shots to 80.
The team of Barrie Smith, Gary Payne, Ron Saunders and skip Les Pumphrey started out well, up by six shots before their opponents scored; but a fight-back in the later stages of the first half had them down by four shots at the break.
While they matched their foes in the second half, the damage was done and they lost by 21 shots to 26.
Nick Henwood’s rink, of Frank Prins, Gwen Fabris and Tom Cleary were likewise up by six shots before Traralgon got going, and by the break they were still up by that number.
Their opposition came out gunning, drew level and was four shots up with one end to play. A valiant effort saw Nick’s team score three shots on the last end, but alas they lost by 23 shots to 24.
Alan Wilson, Ray Biffin, Gary Helmore and skip Steve Whyte were involved in a tussle all day with their opponents, the scores being tied seven times during the game, including going into the last end. The Garfielders managed to garner one shot on that last end, winning by 20 shots to 19.
The match played by Shane Oliver and his team of Graeme Burton, Lexi Taylor and Alan White started out being close, with a five-shots all score after five ends; but the Garfield gang then got into gear and powered away, winning handsomely by 32 shots to 11.
Another good win retains the side’s position on top of the ladder.
The Div 5 side played host to another Traralgon side, and with some very good performances, won overall by 100 shots to 48.
Brian Fox, Lois King, Judy Pocklington and skip Gordon Moxey struggled all day against what was undoubtedly Traralgon’s strongest rink.
They were down by 18 shots before they opened their account, but after that they outscored their opponents, to go down in the end by 17 shots to 30.
By contrast, the team of Len Preece, Gillian Harper, Damian Brick and skip Don Knight were 13 shots up before their opponents scored, and – giving them only four ends for the game – went on to win easily…40-6.
Bob Lamport’s team, comprised of Wes Goodman, Barry Johnson and Maureen Lamport, likewise bolted out of the boxes and rampaged away to win by 43 shots to 12.
This was a good recovery after last week’s loss which moves the side up to third on the ladder. They are off to Morwell next week.
-Damian Brick-
