The Club Major Triples event is up and running and two games were played on Saturday and both resulted in fairly convincing wins.

Mick Went, Mark Dwyer and Greg Townsend got away to a flying start, winning the first six ends to lead 8 – 0. Brian Hampton, Ian Simpson and Steve Ryan eventually got on the board but had no answer to the class of Team Went, who won 28 – 9.

Wilbur Harris, Steve Turner and Guy Ellery came up against Joe Davies and Mike and Jo Simpson. Team Davies had the better of the early ends but in the end Team Harris won 35 – 18.

Social Bowls, Thursday, 17th March: Twenty Bowlers turned out for 5 games of Pairs. Steve Turner/Bernie Mitchell vs Col Mudie/Bob Freeman 20 – 19; John Ward/Ron Hornery vs George Boatswain/Rob Irving 18 – 14; Ian Simpson/Gordon Dickson vs Jim Blake/Alan Affleck 23 – 13; Graham Dixon/John Carr beat Steve Ryan/John Niddrie; Gary McPhee/Ray Jones beat Rob Tinker/Maureen Baillie

Saturday, 19th March 19: Warwick Parker/Ray Jones beat Col Mudie/Gordon Dickson; Martin Tighe/John Ward vs Col Hayward/John Carr 23 – 16; Rob Tinker/Jim Blake/George Bradley vs Graham Dixon/Bruce Orr/Bob Freeman 19 – 10.

By Col Miller

The Major Triples draw is on the board and the first game has been completed. Team Grant (Tom Furey, Brian Townsend, Maree Grant) took on Team Tighe (John Ward, Bernie Mitchell, Martin Tighe). Team Tighe started well winning the first end but not to be out done Team Grant took control and by the 8th end were leading 12 to 5. Team Tighe tried to fight back but Team Grant kept the pressure on and by the 15th end were leading 19 to 12. Team Grant continued and ran out winners 31 to 12.

Social bowls Thursday: John Carr, Geoff Freeman defeated Mike Valentine, Rob Irving. Johno Johnson, Jim Blake, John Wright defeated Ron Hornery Bob Freeman, Tony Riordan. Gordon Dickson, Guy Ellery defeated Chris Harrison, Col Mudie. Col Woods, Garry McPhee defeated Ray Jones, Col Hayward. Col Miller, Rob Tinker defeated Arthur Corbett, John Ward.

Saturday: John Carr, Rob Irving defeated Wes Westcott, Ray Jones. Ron Hornery, John Wright defeated Trevor Harvey, Maureen Miller. Col Hayward, Col Miller defeated Warwick Parker, Lorraine Baker. Bernie Mitchell, Tom Furey defeated Chris Harrison, Gary McPhee. John Ward, Gordon Dickson, Martin Tighe defeated Col Woods, Bob Freeman, Geoff Freeman. Tony Riordan, Steve Turner defeated Ian Simpson, Brian Townsend.

By Col Miller

On Tuesday, six members motored across to Canowindra to help celebrate 80 years of their Women’s Club, while our No 3 Pennants teams have packed their bags and are off to the State Play-offs in Forster. Nominations for Club Championship Pairs are now open. Find a partner and have a go!

The Easter Trading Table will be held on on 29th March.

You’re invited to put your name down for the Blackman/Whiteman invitation at Bathurst on 2nd June. The District Match Committee will choose six teams of triples from our district to play.

By Lea Orr

Thinking of our bowling friends throughout the state, coping with an unprecedented deluge of non-stop rain.

On a cloudy autumn morning Cherie Frame and Liz Byrne contested the final of the Major Championship Singles for 2022. Last year’s champion Liz, repeated that performance to take the match by a generous margin. Congratulations, Liz Byrne, 2022 Major Singles Champion!

Social games took the form of Scroungers. Kate Keogh amassed a bucketful of points on River 12, running away with the win over Valmai Westcott and Fran White.

A close game took place on River 11, with the points rising and falling. Lorraine Baker surfaced as the narrow winner over Kay Craft, Lynn Ryan and Sue Maddison.

Brenda Davies, with an out-pouring of great shots and a tad of luck, rushed to an unstoppable lead on River 14, leaving Betsy Johnstone, Carol Reed, Maja Iffland and Di Howell picking their way through the debris.

Joan Simpson put up the “road closed” sign halfway through the game on River 13. Jan McPhee, Lea Orr and Vi West could not get past, even when Jan detoured onto River 12!

Once inside the club, we celebrated Di H’s birthday milestone.

By Lea Orr

Last Saturday a game of Major Fours commenced when team Went (Peter McPhee, John Davies, Mark Dwyer and Michael Went) took on team Reilly (Gary McPhee, Martin Tighe, Bret Frame and David Reilly). Team Reilly started well and by the 12th end the score was 12 to 6. On the 14th end the heavens opened. Play resumed on Sunday and Team Went was all fired up and won the next 7 ends to take the lead 21 to 12. Team Reilly won the 20th end. Team Went held on and won the last end and the match 22 to 15.

On Tuesday the semi-finals of the Club Championship Major Singles were on the docket. In a nail-biting “a-salt”, Liz Byrne played her way to a 12-point lead by the half-way mark, only to be caught by Maree Grant on the 25th end, 22-all. The last four ends were one-pointers, with Liz milking the victory by 2 points. In the second semi, Cherie Frame demonstrated a blend of great bowling and trick shots with a pinch of luck, resulting in a generous win over Betsy Johnstone and putting an end to her run of good fortune during the early rounds!

The final of the Major Singles between Liz and Cherie will be played next Tuesday, March 8. Spectator sport at its best!

By Lea Orr