We saw two very tight semi-final matches today in the Women's Club Triples Championship.
In semi-final #1, Joy Sapier's team played Vicki Bartrop's team. Scores were very close all the way, with both teams leading at various stages. Mid game score was 13:13. Towards the end, Vicki's team pulled away but there were only 3 points in the score going into the last end. Vicki's team prevailed!
Semi-final #2 between Di McBryde's team and Jan Woodcock's team was even closer. Di's team got off to a strong start with some excellent lead bowls from Carol Whitehead - 6:0 to Di's team. Then Jan's team started to find the line and length and drew the score to 6:6. Jan's team held a lead until the last end when Di came in with an amazing bowl to take the score to a draw after 21 ends. Jan's team held their nerve for the tie-breaker and came away with the win. It was an excellent match.

The conditions very tough today - winds were very strong and gusty. We saw some great triples games - well played to everyone.

One match was played today in the Women's Triples Club Championship. Vicki Bartrop's team played Pam Caganoff's team. It looked like a pretty tight match most of the way through, with Vicki's team pulling away at the end for a win. The conditions were tough today so very well played to all.
There are lots of matches scheduled for Thursday. The draw is below.
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​Saturday 12th September saw the semi-finals of the Men’s Pairs Championship. Two tight games, one right down to the last bowl. The Saints Championship green No2 was the venue and was running a neat 15 seconds, slight cross breeze and sun shining brightly. A great day for bowls. I must again commend the greenkeepers and in particular head greenkeeper Ben. All three of our greens are outstanding this year and No2 is the best it has been in five years, despite not having a renovation in three years.

Ross Yates and Graeme Manning vs Rod Silber and Chris Carey
Our first match saw two great draw bowlers Ross Yates and Graeme Manning up against last year’s finalists Rod “Ridley” Silber and Chris Carey. It doesn’t matter the grade of a bowler if you can consistently draw you are always a threat and in a semi no opponent can be taking lightly.

Ross and Graeme won the toss kept the mat and rolled a medium to long length scoring a single then another single on the next end. Roddy and Chris won the next two ends with two 2’s then a single to each side saw the score 5-4 Rid and CC. Then on the 9th end Ridley rolled a longish end, Ross and Graeme responded well and picked up a 4, 8-6 to Ross and Graeme, was there an upset in the making?

Rod and Chris responded with three singles, 9-8 RC, anyone’s game at the mid-point of the match. The 13th end and Rod and Chris pick up a 4 but Ross and Graeme pick up a 3 next end and it’s 13-11 RC. Ross rolls a relatively short end and both he and Graeme draw well to hold 2, Chris and Rod dropping 2’ short. CC gets to the mat and can only play one shot, into his bowl on the right, he does so and takes the shot. Graeme tries to draw and just misses. CC chases his last bowl to the head and dead draws onto Graeme’s back bowl to score to 2, 15-11 Rod and Chris. Rod takes CC aside, game plan change.

Rod roles a ditch to ditch and Ross draws a toucher and they score a single, 15-12 RC. Ross and Graeme continue to draw well and are staying in the game. Chris and Rod pick up a single and Ridley goes full length and they score a 4 and a 3. Suddenly the game has turned, 23-12 on the 19th. Ross and Graeme score a 2 on the next end but the game is beyond reach. 23-14 to Rod and Chris. Well played Ross and Graeme, great draw bowling and some impressive on shots, commiserations but we will see you no doubt in the triples. Congratulations Ridley and CC, in the finals for the second year running, is it your year?

Chris Bergman and James Barclay vs Pete Shlager (subbing for Tim Walton) and Peter Larcombe
This was always going to be a thriller, two very evenly matched teams. Super Sub Pete Shlager coming off the bench for Tim “the toolman” Walton who went away somewhere, probably in search of a good Chardy. Mind you, when your sub is a top grade skip you are very fortunate. Jimmy asked for a swab but the stewards found nothing untoward. Game on.

Dead Eye and the Flying Scotsman began the game with a “boom” scoring a 5 on the first end. As students of the game know when you start big you must keep your opponent to singles and a win is well within view but hang on this is the first end. Then they score a 2, 7-0 after two ends. Trading blows sees the game at 12-5 when team Jimmy score a 3 on the 8th. But team Cyclone (he who defies the wind) were not out and scored 5 over the next three ends to be 13-10 down after 12 ends. Then the game went a little crazy both teams score a four, one with a great jack in the ditch shot, the next with a good non shot taking out the nearest bowl. 18-14 team Jimmy on the 15th.

Then Pistol Pete and the Cyclone went on a run, four ends 6 shots, 20-18 to team cyclone 19th end. Dead eye and Jimmy score a 2 and its 20 all on the 20th end. At this stage the bowler’s terrace was full, all other games had finished, and multiple schooners were being raised to the quality of this game.

Some wide bowls as the pressure mounts. We think team Cyclone are holding 1 but we are not sure. Jimmy runs to knock a bowl up but goes wide. Peter the Cyclone Larcombe delicately knocks short bowl up by a single roll. Jimmy again looks to promote but just missed. 2 to team Cyclone and it’s all over. Commiserations Chris and Jimmy well played and just an end short of a win. Pete and Peter well done and well played to come back from a big deficit.

So the final is on the Wednesday 23rd of September. Tim Walton and Peter Larcombe against Roddy Silber and Chris Carey, a rematch of last year’s final. What will be the result? Come to the club, play social or grab a beer and watch this match, it will be a real thriller. I know I’m more than just a little excited!   
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Report by Chris Carey

The men's Consistency Singles starts on Wednesday 16th September.  Draw below - With unification in full swing, Jenni Bradley has entered this years event. Go Jenni! Updated draw below.

The semi finals on Saturday 12th September gave us two excellent games.  Ross Yates & Graeme Manning gave Rod Silber and Chris Carey a run for their money.  However, the more experienced pair of Rod & Chris won out in the end 23-14.  The other match pitted Chris Bergman and Jim Barclay against the existing champions team Larcombe.  With Peter Shlager as sub for Tim Walton, this was a very tight game.  20-20 on the 20th end. Peter and Peter won the final end closing out a great win 22-20. Should be a great final!

Round 2 Men’s Commentary by CC

Exciting stuff as we approach Spring. On Saturday 29th we saw Round 2 of the Championship Pairs and there were some great match ups and some one sided games, more of that later. Most combatants had a roll up Friday on No1, the Tiff. Wow what a great green, in for less than a year and better than most I have played on. This green is something else, so true, so good, running at close to 19 seconds it was lethal. I lightly kicked a bowl back from the south ditch and it went and finished in the north ditch! The green keeper should be congratulated and advised to buy more sand. Fortunately, when we played on Saturday No1 was running a tick over 16 and No2 a second faster.

Those who know green speeds can tell you a perfect green is 15-16 seconds; you can play any shot at that speed including a 1-2 foot draw through the head. A Tiff will turn a little later than a cooch under 2 foot of weight due to the smaller leaf, but at 16 seconds it’s 4-6 inches of grass if that (those with Greenmaster Powers or Allmark or Geoff Rose change that to an inch). So, the conditions were perfect. A slight breeze from North West corner made the carpark hand somewhat wider (read next rink for grass line) but manageable and relatively consistent. Not a cloud in the sky and a few spectators, game on.

Bob Talbot Joe Shofer vs Ced Lewis and Mike Heath
What was this game going to deliver? The big guns, Bob Talbot, Pairs Champion in 2014 and 2009, and everyone’s Uncle Joe, he has to have won a pairs somewhere (probably Lindfield but we don’t quote these) up against Ced “the washing machine” Lewis and Mike “the Leprechaun” Heath.
A very tight game this one, crossing the half way mark at 7-5 to Ced and Mike. Then things started to get away from Bob and Uncle, 5 ends in a row and they were down 14-5 end 15. But Bob’s your Uncle weren’t finished yet and came back with a 3 and a 1, 9-14. The tussle continued until the last end with the score close at 16-13 to the Leprechaun. You can always tell a tight game by the number of shots scored, 26 after 20 ends is a close one. Bob and Joe on a medium length are dropping short but holding a few as Mike and Ced were way through the head. Ced threads his way through the bowls and picks up the jack, they hold 5 now thanks to the washing machine. The Uncle tries to kill it but adds a shot, 6 down game over, 20-13 to Mike and Ced. Commiserations Bob and Joe, that’s why it is not an Olympic sport.

Chris Bergman and Jimmy Barclay vs Richard Lander and Rob Coles
Another one the bookies were not sure of. On paper you would back “Dead Eye” and Jimmy but we all know you don’t play on paper, unless you’re a journalist. Rob is no stranger to this having won the pairs back in 2009. A tight game being 9 all after 9 ends. Then Chris and Jimmy run away with four ends for 8 shots and it’s 17-9. Richard and Rob come back with a 3 but there is no stopping team Jimmy and they cruise to a 26-14 win. Well done chaps and commiserations Richard and Rob.

Tim Walton and Peter Larcombe vs Michael2
I love to see new bowlers enter Championships, when I started bowling I couldn’t wait for the next comp. This match up was always going to be a tough one for Michael Spidalieri and Michael Weiner but good on you boys for entering. Tim “the tool man” Walton and Peter “I defy the wind” Larcombe are current Champs and two years running having won last year’s event in cyclonic conditions, what will they do today? Well the “Michaels” were well and truly up to it and after 7 ends it’s 10-8 to the Champs. But then it got ugly and the Tool man and Cyclone showed why they are the Champs and ran out to win 35-10, dropping only two more ends. Well done team Cyclone and well done the Michaels, you’ll be back next year and will undoubtably be better bowlers for the experience.

George Rosettenstein and Mark Rosenberg vs Rod Silber and Chris Carey
This was probably the match of the day, four top bowlers on a slick green. George and Mark, both district Champions against Rod “The Ridster” Silber and Chris Carey. Rod has been runner up in the pairs four times at the mighty Saints and Chris twice, could this be their year? Rid won the toss and kept the mat, ditch to ditch it was. Good draw bowling from George and Mark saw them holding 3 only for CC to dead draw with his last. 1-0 RSCC. Then a change of tactic early, CC calls one dead short to the middle, Rod is on it but George and Mark fly past the head, RSCC holding 4. Rod and CC cover the back with a bowl each and Mark runs at the head and just misses. 6 shots to Ridley and CC.
The teams exchanged shot then Rid and CC score a 4 and a 3, 16-5 RSCC on the seventh. Then Georgie and Mark go on a run of 2’s, 17-13 on the 13th. 15th end George and Mark hold a 5, CC with his last bowl draws a resting toucher, 20-13 RSCC. A 3 and a 2 see GRMR get to within 4 shots going into the last end, 23-19 RSCC. George and Mark score 1 on the last end, 23-20 Rid and CC. Well played George and Mark, a great come back after being 11 shots down and commiserations.

Paul De Bruyen and Roger Desmarchelier Vs Wes Taylor and Graham Hancock
Another game the bookies weren’t sure of. The De’s had a good win against the Rose boys last week, but Wes and Graham are seasoned competitors. The De’s got out to a good lead, 7-1 after 6 ends, then they drop a 5. Pull back a 3, 1, 2, 13-6 up then drop a 4, 1, 3 and 3 to be 17-13 down after 14 ends. What a strange game. The De’s manage another 3 shot but Wes and Graeme pick up another 5 and it’s all over, 28-17 to Wes and Graham, congratulations. Commiserations Paul and Roger,

Ross Yates and Graeme Manning Vs Ray Gleeson and Brian Hacker
Another one that could have gone either way if Ross and Graeme hadn’t been in drawing form like Da Vinci. Ray and Brian got out to a good lead, 9-2 after 6 ends, 10-4 on the 9th end but then the dreaded big multiple. How often do you feel in the grove, the length changes and “boom” you drop a 6? Then a 4, then a 3 (hopefully not that often) and Ross and Graeme M are out to a 17-10 lead on the 12th end. Ray and Brian fought back with 5 shots over 3 ends and it was 17-15 ross and Graeme. Then they put the collective feet down and raced out to 22-16, bagged a 5 on the 20th and a 3 to finish 30-16 Ross and Graeme, congratulations, great draw bowling. Ray and Brian well done and commiserations.

Fred Alexander and Wilson Cheng Vs Jim Vitiliotis and Grieg Cohen
“Right Said” Fred and The “Wilsonator” were in a mood, boy what a mood. They dropped only 6 ends running out victors 30-8. Jim and Grieg well done and great to see you entering, just hard when you meet top players on a roll, but you got to play! Well done Fred and Wilson. 

The mens pairs for 2020 have reached the semi final stage. Keep an eye out for the next version of Rinkside ramblings for a colurful description of the previous two rounds.

Conditions were excellent on Saturday 29th August for round 2 of the pairs. There were some surprises but mostly the favourites marched on.  Pick of the next round is Carey/Silber v Alexander Cheng.