Good sports all round
SPORTSMANSHIP and club spirit shone brightly at the match between Drysdale and St Leonards last week.
A distressing incident, in which St Leonards player Allan Dunn took ill during the Division 1 match and had to be taken to hospital by ambulance, turned into an uplifting show of club spirit and sportsmanship.
About 12 ends into the contest, play had to be delayed for about an hour while ambulance officers treated Dunn.
The situation obviously left St Leonards down a player for the rest of the afternoon. Enter Maya Rees. The 11-year-old was actually meant to play her first game of pennant for Drysdale in Division 11, but a late change was made and she missed out on starting the match.
Little did she know that a couple of hours later she would be asked to fill the role as the St Leonards replacement — and play her first game of competitive bowls as a Division 1 player.
Rees took to the green leading for St Leonards champion Tony Long and with all eyes peeled on her first delivery she dragged the jack into the ditch, which produced an unbeatable shot.
“The entire place was roaring and cheering, spirits were definitely lifted after a distressing hour,” Kerri Rees said.
“It was great to see all the players from both clubs supportive of her.
“It provided a great vibe after a terrible situation. We certainly wish Alan a speedy recovery as well.”
Thankfully, Dunn returned home from hospital on Wednesday night.
“I have no memory of what happened Saturday, it’s a blank,” Dunn said. “I have been told what happened and that Maya filled my spot … probably a good move as she would be a better player.”
Dunn also said that his ex- perience was a reminder to not only diabetics but bowlers in general to take the necessary precautions when the temperatures start to climb.
Drysdale will head to Belmont tomorrow, while St Leonards returns home to take on fourth-placed Torquay.
Geelong Cement pushed the competition’s top side, City of Geelong, all the way last week and will need to apply the same pressure to make sure it can stay in touch with the final four when it hosts Leopold. Bell Post Hill takes on City of Geelong and Ocean Grove will meet Highton at The Terrace.