Rinkside Ramblings Mens Pairs Round 2

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.