BOWLS NOTES

Two rounds of the men’s A-grade singles were played on Sunday, and there are now just eight players left in the draw. The quarter-finals and semi-finals will be played on December 12. The draw for the quarter-finals is Trevor Dunlop v Brad Orr, Glenn Power v Paul Ledger, Kris Ferguson v Neville Mantonm and Rhys Newby v Graeme Waddell.

Saturday and Tuesday were very successful days for the club, with all four pennant weekend teams and all three midweek teams having a win.

When the teams were originally selected, the division five team was short of four players for its game against Murchison, and it looked like they would have to play with just 12 players. Fortunately they were able to borrow four players from Mooroopna Golf, which had an excess of players, and then proceeded to have their first win for the season by just one shot. A big thank you to Mooroopna Golf for lending four of their excess players to Shepparton Golf on Saturday.

MERRIGUM

On Tuesday, November 16 Merrigum played Murchison in division four pennant, but could only manage to win one rink so did not have a very good day.

Joe Chant, Wayne Shepherd, Noreen Earl and Lee Chant drew M. Lockyer and won by two shots. The game see-sawed all day until finally the scores were level with one end to play. Thankfully the home side managed to pick up two shots to get the two points.

Jim Arthur lost by 10 shots to Helen Newton, and John Firmer found Marg Tweddle far too strong and went down by 27 shots.

On Saturday division five hosted East Shepparton and won two rinks but lost overall by three shots.

There were two new bowlers having their first game for the club: Colin Capes had played at Kerang previously, but Lane Talbot was having his first ever game of pennant. He is one of the juniors and everyone looks forward to both players having a long and happy association with the club.

Gary Mott, Peter Warburton, Caleb Dixon and Jim Arthur played L. Jeffery and won easily by 11 shots. They started slowly but hit the lead after eight ends and were never really challenged over the concluding ends.

David Pettifer, Peter Hoare, Neil Gardiner and Clive Baxter faced off against R. LeLievre and got home by three shots. This was a close game until the beginning of the “championship” ends when the scores read 18 shots apiece. Over these last five ends Merrigum won six shots to one.

John Firmer drew G. Dalle-Nogare and lost by only two shots. Merrigum began badly and was 13 shots adrift after 13 ends and in all sorts of bother. Over the last 12 ends it fought back and outscored its opponents by 17 shots to six but unfortunately ran out of ends.

In the last match Glen Smith played B. Cook and went down by 17 shots. They started with a four but could only manage 11 more shots over the rest of the game.

The hamper draw will now be at the club on December 18. A meal will be catered for and will need to have names in by December 11. The board has put the cost of the two-course meal at $20.

Keep up the good work with your hamper ticket sales and don’t forget to bring some goods for the hamper.

SHEPPARTON PARK

This year’s Christmas function is on tomorrow night, Friday, November 26 from 6pm onwards. It will be a chicken, salad, and sweets evening with some promised entertainment. You can still attend but you will need to RSVP to Joy Gardam 0422 214 414 or Annette Barkley 0419 903 734 today. Don’t miss out, contact them now.

Last week’s 2x2 pairs saw the evergreen Joe Lia accompanied by Phil McCann salute the judge with 35 points. Just behind were Paul Becroft and Rob Thorne on 34 plus 15, and Barry Nelson and Gary Bathman on 34 plus 12.

Richard Hanson and Sue Tyson claimed the consolation prize while Graeme Ball, Julie Bennett, Sue Tyson, Rob Thorne, Bill Gullick and Ron Holland all recorded resting touchers.

Names on the board or phone Graeme Sinclair on 0418 395 388 to play.

The ever popular mixed Turkey Triples will be on Sunday, December 12. It’s a 4.30pm start for two-bowl triples with two games of 14 ends. Cost is $45 per team which includes a meal after the first game. Entries to Wes Gibbs on 0427 232 192 or Bev Cahill on 0408 313 872. All bowlers welcome.

Entries for the men’s and women’s 21 Up and 100 Up are listed on the noticeboard. Enter now as entries close on Sunday, November 28.

EAST SHEPPARTON

The club will be holding its women’s tournament sponsored by Kensington Gardens on Friday, December 3; phone Marilyn Cox 0417 332 268 or Heather Adderley 0438 582 713 to enter.

Tuesday night social bowls is on each Tuesday night. Phone Don Lowe 0407 360 130 or Ivan Hall 58 211787 prior to Tuesday if you want a game. The drawn team winner last week went to Wannabb’s and the encouragement award to new team Kensington Gardens.

In last Saturday’s pennant results, division one had a loss to Kyabram with only coach Brent Reiner’s rink having a win 33-12; John Gribble’s rink had a draw 17-17, but it was not enough to cover the other two rinks.

Division two had a close game but lost overall 85-95; the only successful rink was Kevin Cox’s rink, winning 25-19.

Division three was defeated 107-81 with only Ivan Hall’s rink winning.

Division five Eric Cooke’s rink had another good victory 41-16 to enable the team to win overall 86-83.

Division six also won overall against Dookie with Rob Dodd’s rink continuing its good form winning 34-12, and Barry McRae wining 27-15 for an overall win of 80 to 67.

Tuesday’s pennant, division one had a very good win; division 3-1 won two rinks but overall went down by 10 shots.

Division 1: G Barber won 30-13, S Collier drew 22-22, J Delmenico lost 16-23.

Division 3-1: K Cox 26-21, P Hueston win 26-22, R Thorp lost 14-31.

Division 3-2: G Dalla-Nogare lost 20-34, K Pregnell lost 18-22, V Le Lievre lost 20-24.

Division 4 : H Adderly lost 12-38, B Sutton lost 20-27, R Le Lievre lost 18-23.

Thursday training has had good numbers of late with the Tuesday bowlers at 4pm to 5pm and the Saturday pennant commencing at 5pm.

Monday bowls is now off and running, phone Kevin Cox on 0439 332 268 or Dennis Galt on 0407 845 767. The event will be played starting at 10.30am; names to be in prior to 10am, or on the list on the notice board prior to Monday.

Last Monday’s winners were Jack Dell and David Downs, (again) runners-up Jeff Boyle and Ernie Salvemini. Consolation prize went to Mick McLean and David Minogue.

Club events are on the notice board so check your draw and get your games played as soon as you can.

The Christmas party is on after Thursday practice on December 16, 6.30pm for a barbecue etc, cost is $10, children free. A list is on the outside board to give the organising committee an idea for catering.

MOOROOPNA

Sunday was a hive of activity at Mooroopna as the women and the men played the first two rounds of their club championship singles. Play began at 9am in near perfect weather. The women, as usual, came forth with a delicious sausage and salad lunch, and ice-cream followed.

Saturday pennant was a bit of a sorry story with division two being soundly beaten by a strong Tatura-Hill Top division. Mooroopna’s only winning team, 23 to 17, was M. McKee with R. Crotty, B. Nichols and N. Griffen. One team played a draw; this team was led by A. Donaldson with N. Halden, G. Power and D. Andrews with a score of 27-all.

However, smiles were on the faces of division three, playing Avenel and winning by only four shots, 98 to 94.

Three teams winning their rinks were A. Smith with J. Munn, I. McLean and D. Curtis, 27 to 22; B. Mc Kenzie with J. Robinson, G. Wynn and D. Ryan, 22 to 21; and S. Florence with I. Pointing, M. Florence and S. Thomas, 30 to 22.

Keep up the good work, folks. Winners are grinners.

Midweek pennant was all smiles, but there were some worrying moments when Mooroopna played East Shepparton. Final scores were 74 shots to 66 in favour of Mooroopna.

East Shepparton won on two rinks, 26 to 22 and 26 to 21, but the team of Lyn Thatcher, S. Florence, M. Jones and D. Blake played very well and finally won 31 shots to 14 thus securing a win and the points for Mooroopna. Some very good bowling was seen all round from both teams.

The entry form is on the board for championship pairs, look for it. Closing on December 3, first round must be completed by Christmas.

Club singles handicaps are being considered at present.

Don’t forget Friday night social hour or two. Membership draw now stands at $40 and visitors are very welcome.

The club has ordered new mats. Come along and try them out, you just might like them.