Unsuccessful start to finals for Garfield

Garfield Bowling Club’s teams had a disappointing start to their finals campaign on Saturday.

Midweek

Garfield travelled to Yinnar for the last home-and-away game for the season on Tuesday.

The ladder leaders showed how good they are at home, leaving Garfield to travel home after a 31-shot loss.

Division three: Garfield lost to Yinnar 30/61

The team of Lexi Taylor, Steve Hyam, Richard Ross and skip Helene Newton played a very tight game, with scores being tied four times. This included the second-last end, where scores were 15-all. In the last end, the Garfielders held two shots when Yinnar’s skip came in with her last bowl and took the jack back. Garfield lost by just one shot, 15/16.

Gwen Fabris’ team, consisting of Keith Sainsbery, Cheryl Breteler and Damian Brick, were down by 10 shots before they opened their account. The rest of the game was relatively even, but the damage was done and they lost 11/23.

Margaret Hyam, Malcolm Newham, Bob Lamport and skip Maureen Lamport only won three ends for the day - not a recipe for a winning score. However, they weren’t completely outclassed as, for 15 of the 18 ends they lost, they kept their opponents to just one shot. This meant the final 4/26 score wasn’t a complete blowout.

Despite this loss, the side remains in third place on the ladder, and will host a home semi-final match against Morwell today.

Saturday

Garfield’s division three side hosted second placed Traralgon in Saturday’s semi-final.

An, admitted, touch of complacency lead to their ultimate defeat by 32 shots.

Division three: Garfield lost to Traralgon (3) 62/94

Tom Cleary’s team, consisting of Frank Prins, Len Preece and Joe Lenders, played a see-saw game all day. They were down, then up, then down, before being four shots down with two ends to play. Three shots on the second last end brought them to within one shot of their opponents. A desperate last shot on the final end secured a 19-all draw.

The team of Graeme Burton, Bob Lamport, Richard Ross and skip Shane Oliver struggled early and were down 6/15 after 11 ends. However, 11 shots in two ends put them back in front - and they stayed there. They won 21/19.

The team of Les Pumphrey, Henry Breteler, Steve Bassed and skip Nick Henwood were way down early, having only scored four shots in the first 14 ends. Trailing by 19, they won five of the last seven ends to salvage some pride in a 16/28 loss.

Alan Wilson, Gerry Wakefield, Alan White and skip Stephen Whyte were likewise well down at the 14th end. However, there was no comeback. They lost convincingly 6/28.

Garfield will now play Warragul in the preliminary final on Saturday.

Division five: Garfield (2) lost to Morwell Club (2) 52/72

Garfield went to Newborough to play its semi final against Morwell Club on Saturday.

The team of Shirley Corcoran, Cheryl Breteler, Brian Fox and skip Damian Brick held their own for the first half of the game, being eight-all after 11 ends. But, their opponents got on top and stormed home to deliver an 11/28 loss.

Gordon Moxey’s team, consisting of Wes Goodman, Lois King and Helene Newton, jumped out to an 11-shot lead before their opponents had scored. However, a spirited comeback reduced the deficit to a final game-winning score by Garfield of 24/20.

Keith Cooke, Maureen Lamport, Lexi Taylor and skip Gwen Fabris were up against it all day and, despite a six on the 16th end, lost 17/24.

On Saturday, the side faces a rematch against last week’s opponents Neerim District in the preliminary final.