GARFIELD BOWLS
After recent weekend downpours it was a welcome return to playing for Garfield’s Saturday pennant sides this week.
And a couple of wins made the feeling even better.
On Tuesday 12 December, the Midweek Division 3 side played host to third-placed Drouin, a very strong side who presented a great challenge.
The result was very creditable, considering Garfield only went down by three shots, 48-51.
The team of Graeme Burton, Keith Cooke, Bob Lamport and skip Lexi Taylor started well, winning the first two ends.
Their opponents came back to even the score at three-all, and the Garfielders kept with them for most of the game, with the scores level at seven, then 10; but then the visitors showed their strength.
Drouin pulled away to win 16-11.
Helene Newton skipped the team of Rick Sillett, Malcolm Newham and Luke Monckton.
They led by five shots early, and kept the pressure up, leading by nine shots at the halfway mark.
Their opponents made somewhat of a comeback, levelling the second half, but couldn’t match the locals, who won by 21 shots to 13.
Keith Sainsbery, Cheryl Breteler and Gerry Wakefield, along with their skip Gwen Fabris, began slowly and were down by 11 shots after half time; but they made a good recovery to only lose by 16 shots to 22.
The side remains in eighth place on the ladder, but are still within a good win of fourth place.
On Saturday, the Division 2 side galloped off to Thorpdale and came home winners by 99 shots to 73.
The team of Gary Helmore, Alan Wilson, Richard Ross and skip Steve Whyte allowed their opponents to score on the first end, but only five more times for the day, running away to win convincingly by 31 shots to 9.
Graeme Burton, Bob Lamport, Joe Lenders and skip Shane Oliver were likewise well in control of their game, leading from the start, and winning easily by 26 shots to 17.
Nick Henwood’s team, consisting of Frank Prins, Les Pumphrey and Steve Bassed, were not so well off.
A close game early, which was tied four times in the first 11 ends, saw the home team pull away in the second half and inflict a loss on the Garfielders by 16 shots to 21.
The team of Wes Goodman, Ron Saunders, Alan White and skip Tom Cleary had a game completely in two halves.
After 12 of the 21 ends, the Garfield lads were in front 24-2, and seemingly coasting.
And maybe they were, indeed, because the home team completely reversed the story in the second half, racing up behind and catching them with a final lunge to tie the game at 26-shots all.
This good win moves the side up into the four for the first time this year.
Well done, lads, keep up the good work.
Meanwhile, at Garfield Arena, the Division 5 side took on Trafalgar and had an overwhelming win, winning overall by 97 shots to 43.
Keith Sainsbery, Len Preece and Steve Hyam, skipped by Brian Fox, bolted out of the boxes and had scored 20 shots after seven ends before their opponents opened their account.
After that, they settled down a bit and allowed the visitors a few ends – including five shots on one end – which made their score look a bit better.
However, the Garfielders still finished with a magnificent score of 39 shots to 13.
Helene Newton’s team, consisting of Lois King, Margaret Hyam and Keith Cooke, were the opposite; they started more closely with their opponents and, after the same seven ends, were only up 7-5.
They then raced away to wind up with a great final score of 33 shots to 10.
Gwen Fabris and her team, consisting of Cheryl Breteler, Lexi Taylor and Henry Breteler, had the only close game of the match. Their opposition pulled away at the beginning and led early, but the Garfielders caught them up and the scores were tied at 10-all, 12-all, 14-all and finally 19-all with four ends to go.
Then the home team scored six shots to one in those last four ends, to bring home the clean sweep, with a final score of 25 shots to 20.
This leaves the side remaining in fourth place, but now only two points behind third place Drouin.
A good set of results leading up to the Christmas break for the Saturday sides, and one more chance for the Tuesday side to make it all sides in the four at Christmas.
The team at Garfield wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.
-Damian Brick-
