Former champion footballer Tom Cleary has proved he has more than one string to his bow after taking out his first Men’s Singles Championship at Garfield Bowls Club.
As an opener to the club’s Christmas function, the final was played between two of Garfield’s senior side skippers, with Cleary taking on the huge challenge of trying to conquer and last year’s champion Richard Ross.
All four of the semi-finalists were skips in Garfield’s first side, which demonstrated that the selectors appear to have done something right.
The game began with one shot each on the first two ends; then Richard moved away to a small lead, which Tom levelled at six shots all on the eighth end.
After that, Cleary drew steadily away to an 18-8 lead and, to those who didn’t know, it looked like the match was over.
However, Richard’s capacity for coming back from behind was not to be doubted, and the score was soon tied again at 18 shots all.
Not to be denied his first Singles Club Championship, Tom got his mojo back together and breasted the tape in the 19th end to record the winning lead and the championship.
Congratulations to Tom and commiserations to Richard on his inability to go back-to-back.
It was a great contest fought out by two terrific bowlers.
-Damian Brick-
