Two wins for Neerim District
Neerim District Bowling Club scored two wins and two losses in the opening rounds of pennant season.
Division two: Neerim District lost to Drouin (2) 74/82
Peter Throup (skip), Pat Fraser-Aurisch, Tony Thornton and Karren Sheers lost to Colin Jeffrey’s team 18/19.
Neerim won the first three ends but dropped a six to trail 4/6. Singles were common and Drouin by 10/8 by the 12th end. Following threes to both teams, Neerim scored four singles to lead by two. Drouin kicked away again. A three on the last end saw Neerim fall one short.
Peter Brooks (skip), Ray Watts, Ray Throup and Chris Hogan defeated David Tayles’ team 26/18.
Scores were level on the sixth end before Neerim surged ahead. A six on the 14th end had their lead out to 11. Drouin fought back to trail by four on the 19th end before Neerim finished off strongly to win by eight.
Shane Hogan (skip), Trevor Kuhnell, Ross Pollard and Jim Fallon lost to Brian Thorpe’s team 18/21.
Neerim were in heaps of trouble early, down 2/12 on the eighth end. Starting a fightback, Neerim gained four on the 12th but dropped a five on the 16th to trail by nine. Neerim won four of the last five ends, with a four on the last end, for a three-shot loss.
Neil Adams (skip), Angus McGillivray, Rob Cook and Colin McKay lost to Arthur Moore’s team 12/24.
After being three-all on the third, Drouin took control. They won the next six ends, including a four and five on consecutive ends, to lead by 15 shots.
Scoring tightened up, with singles dominating. Neerim managed to cut three from the margin to go down by 12 shots.
Division five: Neerim District (2) defeated Longwarry (2) 76/52
Jim Schroeder (skip), Kay Cousins, Graeme Wingrove and Des Pelly defeated Gerard Mitchell’s team 24/20.
Neerim trailed 0/5 early but fought back. They won 10 of the next 13 ends, including a six, to lead by 15 shots. Longwarry came back over the last ends but Neerim won by eight.
Greg Bond (skip), Mal Collins, Mick Talbot and Bron Throup defeated Paul Buckner’s team 24/16.
Neerim trailed 1/5 before a five on the eighth end gave them a four-shot lead. Neerim continued strongly to lead by seven on the 14th. Longwarry closed the gap with a four but Neerim again kicked away to lead by 10 on the 18th end. Longwarry came back but Neerim held on to win by four.
John Rochford (skip), Russell Meehan, Gerry Engelstad and Neville Cousins defeated Sharon Twite’s team 28/16.
Neerim started well to lead 11/5 by the seventh end. A six on the ninth end had the lead out to 11. Longwarry closed the gap to just four on the 16th end, only for Neerim to power home for a 12-shot win.
Division six: Neerim District (3) defeated Traralgon (6) 51/28
George Rymer (skip), Fish Halligan, Gerald Winter and Peter Nolan defeated Joyce Hales’ team 32/7.
Neerim started well and led 8/0 after four ends. Traralgon picked up some singles and a three to trail by five on the 10th end. Neerim dominated, conceding one and picking up 21.
Roger Till (skip), Cookie Halligan, Richard Kerr and Tom Goodwin lost to Jim Goodwin’s team 19/21.
Two fours in the first three ends gave Neerim a seven-shot lead. Traralgon hit back, winning the next five ends to lead by three shots. Traralgon built up an eight-shot lead by the 15th end. Scoring was tight but a four to Neerim on the last end reduced Traralgon’s winning margin to two.
Midweek
Division two: Neerim District lost to Morwell Club (2) 32/74
Playing on Morwell Club’s heavy green, Pat Fraser-Aurisch (skip), John Rochford, Thelma Schroeder and Bronwyn Throup lost to Cheryl Reynolds’ team 10/22.
Neerim trailed 1/6 after seven ends before conceding a five to be 2/15 on the 11th end. Neerim responded with a four, trailing by eight on the 16th. However, Club came home with a string of singles to win by 12 shots.
Kay Cousins (skip), Cookie Halligan, Gerald Winter and Richard Kerr lost to Joyce Hughes’ team 13/29.
Neerim were on the board first but trailed 2/8 on the seventh end. They made up five shots over the next two ends before Club started to dominate.
Neerim picked up a three on the last end but Morwell had a 16-shot win.
Karren Sheers (skip), Fish Halligan, Di Tame and Graeme Wingrove lost to Betty Burridge’s team 11/21.
Scoring was close early, with Club leading by just two on the eighth end. Club broke away and led by 13 shots on the 19th end.
Neerim won the last two ends to go down by 10 shots.