WOODSIDE AND HAHNDORF TAKE OUT THE HBA SINGLES CROWNS
The Hills Bowling Association championships culminated on Friday night, with the Lobethal Club hosting the men’s and women’s singles finals.
The pleasant weather attracted an enthusiastic crowd of spectators – all there to cheer on the final four players in each section, vying for a place in the final.
Home favourite Brian Scown of Lobethal got off to a flying start against Hahndorf’s Geoff Deeble, leading 12-3 in the race to 21 shots. Deeble appeared to settle, taking shot on the eighth end, but Scown picked up multiples in four of the next seven ends to get home 21-9 – and book a spot in his first HBA singles final.
In the other preliminary final, Nick Ingram of Meadows was unable to reproduce the form from the previous week in which he ousted former champ David Gleason. Ingram trailed Steve Tasker of Woodside 0-9 after five ends, and with a comfortable lead, the relaxed Tasker scored on all but two of the remaining ends, to win 21-4.
In the women’s section, Renee Green of Lenswood was dealt the tough task of taking on Lobethal’s highly experienced Sandra Weinert. Both players produced some superb bowls, and not unexpectedly the scores were drawn at 6 all after eight ends, 12 all after eighteen ends, and 15 all after twenty one ends. However Weinert secured shots on each of the next four ends to run out a 21-15 winner.
In the remaining preliminary final, last year’s runner-up Julie Ridge of Gumeracha faced off against twice ladies’ pairs champion Sue Maddern of Hahndorf. In what was a dour struggle, Ridge, who had trailed for most of the match, bounced back from 14-18 down after seventeen ends, to pick up multiples, and snatch the lead 19-18. However Maddern produced her best bowls in the closing stages, picking up three shots on the final end to grab the win 21-19.
Both grand final matches were absolute nail biters.
The men’s match started evenly, with Scown and Tasker locked at 5 all after eight ends. But Scown used his home ground advantage to put a buffer between him and his opponent throughout the middle stages of the game. However the tide turned when an errant running shot saw Scown give away three shots, and the match levelled at 16 all after twenty ends. Players exchanged shots over the next few ends, with scores again tied at 18 all after twenty three ends – but Tasker held his nerve on the remaining two ends to take the match, and his inaugural singles championship, 21-18.
The women’s final on the adjoining rink looked like it was also about to finish – with the Hahndorf champ Maddern holding a comfortable 19-9 lead after eighteen ends. However Lobethal’s Weinert fought her way back, winning six of the next seven ends, to trail just 17-20. But Maddern would not be denied, and again showed her poise at the crunch end of the game – drawing shot to take the match and the title, 21-17.
Many thanks to the host club Lobethal and their members – caterers, bar staff, green assistants, umpires, and markers – all chipping in to make the final HBA event of the season a huge success.