BLUES TAKE OUT THE PRESIDENT’S CUP
The final night of the President’s Cup concluded in ideal conditions at the Mt. Barker Bowling Club.
Defending champion Neville Mansell and his Green team took on Jamie Burt and the Blues for first and second place, while Scott Pittaway led the Reds against Mike Guerin’s Yellow side for third place honours.
In the third place play off, Guerin skippered Stephen Tarr in the pairs, to outlast Red’s Val Deeble and Ted Robinson 15-13. However the triples was a rout for the Reds as Pittaway skippered Jay Maslen and Butch Mik to a 30-8 win over Mike Baronaitis, George Coleiro, and Steve Knipe. The Reds secured third spot with an overall 43-23 win.
The play off for top spot was a much closer affair. Jamie Burt skippered Richard Crocker in the pairs, and held a comfortable 14-1 lead over Green’s Mark Schutt and Dave Freebairn after 7 ends. However the Greens rallied, picking up 11 shots to 1 in the remaining half of the match – to just fall short 12-15. Keen to make amends in the triples, Mansell, Alan Dunn, and Brian Scown had a scorching start, leading Terry Holding, Bill Robertson, and Geoff Deeble 7-0 after 5 ends. The Blues then stepped up a gear, collecting 14 shots to 3 over the next 7 ends, to lead 14-10 with three ends remaining.
In what turned out to be a nail biter, the Greens scored on the 13th and 14th ends, and with class skipper Mansell drawing to hold four shots on the final end, the overall scores were level – with Deeble on the mat holding the deciding bowl.
If Greens were to hold those four shots, the overall scores would be level – and the Greens would win on a countback of ends won (17 to 13).
However, a well weighted shot from Deeble took out two Green bowls, and despite the Greens winning the end and the game 15-14 – the overall result 29-27 in favour of the Blue side saw Jamie Burt hold aloft the President’s Cup.
The player of the series award was presented to joint winners Alan Dunn of Gumeracha and Neville Mansell of Lobethal, who narrowly pipped Hahndorf’s Jamie Burt and Richard Crocker on percentage – with all four players being undefeated during the series.
Many thanks to the host clubs Hahndorf, Lenswood, Meadows, and Mt. Barker who all worked hard to look after players and spectators. And congratulations to all players who competed to make this year’s event such a success. The shortened format of triples and pairs, along with great weather, made for a fantastic four nights of bowls – and it is hoped that increased entries next season will see the event expand.