CARDINIA WATERS BOWLS
Cardinia Waters Bowls Club has two new Club Champions after both the women’s and men’s events were played last Friday.
There was a marked contrast between the two games, with the women’s event being a short, sweet and one-sided encounter.
Club President Michele Bondfield played the popular Marie Stephenson, and the bubbly Marie was in front all of the game, eventually running out a happy 25-7 victor.
She was congratulated by the small crowd watching, including her husband, Dennis.
The men’s game held after the women’s event was markedly different.
Last year’s winner Ray Naylor faced his friend and teammate John Moore.
Strong wind marred the game, but only fanned the intensity of both players, with the game lasting two-and-a-half hours, a mammoth task for any bowler.
Very little separated these bowlers, and seemingly as one took control the other forged a comeback.
So much so, that Ray and John were all even at 24-24, with one end to play.
The small crowd were on their seats edge eager to witness this epic game.
It eventually came down to the last bowl of the game.
In the final end John held shot, and Ray had one bowl to come.
He then played his signature forehand draw bowl, taking the shot and winning by one.
It was a marvellous outcome to a wonderful game.
One unusual statistic from both these games was they were won by left-handed bowlers.
In fact, both men in the final were lefties.
SATURDAY PENNANT: RESUMES AFTER CHRISTMAS BREAK
All metropolitan bowls resumed last Saturday after the break, and Cardinia Waters wasted no time hitting their straps and completely overwhelming Narre Warren.
The Panthers seemed surprised by the visiting Cardinia Waters team who led all day, and won easily in the end by 38 shots.
Perhaps the fact that Cardinia Waters were languishing on the bottom of the ladder led to complacency by the Panthers, but they were no match for the visitors who won easily on three of the four rinks.
This win helped Cardinia Waters off the dreaded wooden spoon position, and they gladly handed that honour to Berwick.
As relegation faces the bottom team a lot of interest will hang on the last four games of the season.
Best rink for Cardinia Waters this week was skipped by John Van Vugt who played with Del Dance, Robert Mitchell and Cathy Swinkels.
They won easily in the end, 33-12, eclipsing their opponents by winning six of the last eight ends.
John Moore skipped another winning rink accompanied by Steve Hale, Marion Stevens and Peter Mitchell.
They never gave their opponents a look-in winning 30-11, having had the luxury of a 17-2 lead at afternoon tea.
Rounding off a good day for Cardinia Waters was the rink of Ray Naylor, Bryan Stevens, Jill Naylor and Ian Kennedy who had a comfortable 21-10 victory.
With four rounds left Cardinia Waters will be focussed on keeping off the bottom, and next week face the top team Churchill Waverley Golf Club at home.
The “golfers” inherited top place this week after the leader Ferntree Gully lost a surprise game against Upwey-Tecoma.
VALE DOT MOTTON
Over the Christmas break Cardinia Waters lost one of their stalwart bowlers in Dot Motton, who passed away suddenly.
Although officially retired from competitive bowling, Dot was a great supporter of the bowls club, and would be seen accompanied by her dog watching and encouraging her bowling friends.
She enjoyed playing our Monday night Summer Triples, the shorter form of the game suiting her.
Earlier this season she dusted off her uniform to help her club when they were short of a Pennant Player.
Dot played for Lang Lang and Kooweerup in earlier years, and was a skilled player.
Her Cardinia Water friends held an afternoon tea last week to honour her memory.
-John Moore-
