Bounce backs, forfeits and shocks
Garfield bounced back with a good 18shot win against local rival Longwarry in division two on Saturday.
In division four, it was a third versus fourth showdown against Drouin who proved victors.
Division two: Garfield defeated Longwarry 98/80.
The team of Les Pumphrey, Ron Saunders, John Majkut and skip Shane Oliver started slowly, but once they hit their straps proved unstoppable as they charged home for a 30/20 win.
Tom Cleary’s team of Stuart Gemmill, Joe Lenders and Alan White were in front all day and finished with the best score of the day, winning 29/15. The third winning team of the day was that of Rod James, Bob Lamport, Nick Henwood and skip Peter Lieshout. They started like a train, fell asleep in the middle, then came home hard to win 24/21.
The only fly in the ointment was the team of Gary Helmore, Gary Payne, Steve Bassed and skip Steve Whyte who were neck-and-neck until the break. They slipped away to lose 15/24.
The overall win has the side sitting just outside the four again, ready to pounce.
Division four: Garfield (2) lost to Drouin (3) 103/66.
The inclusion of some division six players to fill spots for missing players, made it difficult to compete with a strengthened Drouin.
Wes Goodman’s team of Brian Fox, Jan Johnson and Damian Brick led most of the day but faltered at the end to go down 20/24.
The team of Lex Taylor, Helene Newton, Barry Johnson and skip Kevin Donald struggled all day, finally losing 11/30.
Charlie Borg’s team of Don Knight, Barrie Smith and Cliff Stevens were hard put to keep up with their opposition. However, they came home with a wet sail, scoring seven shots in the last three ends to “only” lose 17/28.
The best performed of the lot was Gordon Moxey’s team of Judy Pocklington, Ken Newton and Malcolm Newham. They looked well out of it early but fought hard to finish with only a threeshot loss, 18/21.
The result drops the side out of the top four for the first time this season, and will give them incentive to fight back next week.
Division six: Garfield (3) forfeited to Trafalgar (3). The side was forced to forfeit due to the number of players called to fill in at higher levels.
Top of ladder Garfield against bottom of ladder Trafalgar at home should have been an easy win for Garfield. But nothing can be taken for granted.
Division three: Garfield lost to Trafalgar (2) 50/62.
The team of Brian Fox, John Majkut, Bev Sainsbery and skip Isabel Deane were jumped at the start and, with plenty of distractions along the way, were never in it. They lost 14/22.
Judy Pocklington’s team of Wes Goodman, Damian Brick and Sue Stansfield were in front most of the day, but stalled in the run home to be beaten 18/23.
The opposite happened to the standout team of the day, Cliff Stephens, Bob Lamport, Edna Adams and skip Lex Taylor. They started slowly but stormed home to win 23/17.
An overall loss to Garfield just goes to show that anything is possible in bowls. The loss hasn’t cost the team top spot, but is a wakeup call in the run home.