Sundee Morning Bowls: 23rd win for Col Cottee

THE downpour on Saturday cleared and the Combo bowlers enjoyed rolling up under blue sky and bright sunshine. The brisk breeze kept jackets and jumpers handy but like the die-hards who braved Mount Panorama, our bowlers showed their resilience in the face of the conditions.

Shirley Marchant, Julie Brown and Eric Satchell flew off the mat, chalking up six shots in four but Ray Strawhan, Frank Armstrong and Karen Greenhalge fought back with three doubles to level up at end seven. The lead changed again with Shirley and co ahead by four at 11 then Ray, Frank and Karen scored five of their own and led by one at 13. The big change came on the next when Shirley, Julie and Eric dropped a four to clinch the win 16 shots to 13.

In a low-scoring, close battle, Mary Perry, Doc Livingston and Col Cottee downed Pat Sherwin, Gordon Lummis and Graham Miller by 12 shots to 11. Mary and her boys led by one at the turnaround, scores were level after 10 and they broke away by four with two to go. Despite a late charge from Pat’s team, the leaders held on by a margin of one.

Dave Davis and Col Dover overcame an early deficit to lead John Mckenzie and Matt Quill by four shots at the break. A triple and single on the last two ends had narrowed the gap!

Dave and Col drew out by seven then John and Matt rolled triples on ends 11 and 12 and a single on 13 to level up. They drew ahead with one end to play but Dave and his partner struck a demoralising five on the last and claimed an enthralling match 18-15.

Carl New, Leo Balstad and Roger Sherwin defeated Ron Mccauley, Doug Aldis and Phil Knight in another close match. The final score of 1513 was achieved with plenty of ebbs and flows. In the end it was more multiples by Carl and his mates that clinched the win.

Sue Mccauley, Pete Bennison and Bryan O’sullivan played cat and mouse with Zac Miller, Allan Stratford and John Cole in one of those “games of two halves”. Bryan’s side led at the turnaround then Zac’s crew rolled a triple on 10, followed by a big six shots, blasting them to a five shot buffer. That was the end of their scoring as Bryan’s team added four consecutive doubles and won 20 shots to 13; 11 ends to 5.

Al Andriske, Mel Giddings and Gaye Cottee trundled out against John Kennedy, Chris Strojny and Mick Strawhan but they raced away with their match 27-7, scoring on 11 of the 16 ends. There was no “safety car” for Big John and the boys, and the Holden-fuelled team took the flag in a masterful display!

 Winners – Allan Andriske, Mel Giddings and Gaye Cottee

 Runners up – Sue Mccauley, Pete Bennison and Bryan O’sullivan

 Resters – Bryan O’sullivan, Leo Balstad and Roger Sherwin

 Lucky Numbers – Gordon Lummis, Leo Balstad and Eric Satchell.