WOODSIDE AND MT. BARKER SECURE THE HBA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIPS

The finals of the Hills Bowling Association Championship triples and fours were held at the Hahndorf Bowling Club last Friday night.

A very warm day of 37C turned into glorious evening for this twilight event – with Hahndorf hosting the grand final in each format.

The experienced and seasoned Mt. Barker combination of Christine Nicholls, Tony Wetherall, and John Corner took on Woodside’s Steve Tasker, Stephen “Cadbury” Thomas, and Shane Harris in the triples grand final, played over 18 ends.   The Mt. Barker team are previous winners of this event, but despite starting as favorites, got off to a slow start – trailing 5-0 after three ends.  As expected, Mt. Barker bounced back to draw level at 6-6 after six ends.  Woodside settled back into the match picking up multiple shots on the ninth and twelth ends, but again Mt. Barker rallied to tighten the scoreline at 14-13 with four ends remaining.  Tally of four shots on the 15th end gave Woodside the upper hand, and despite close bowls in the remaining ends, the Woodside trio hung tough to take out their first Champ of Champ event 19-15.

Both teams are previous winners of this event, so it was hard to predict the outcome – but there was a sense that Mt. Barker may fade after having already played for over two hours, and with third Tony Wetherall battling back soreness.  The fifteen end match saw the scores locked at 7 all after eight ends, and the result seemingly in the balance – however six shots over the next three ends, and a count of 4 shots on the fourteenth, Mt. Barker ran out comfortable winners 17-9.

Many thanks to the host club Hahndorf and all who helped, major sponsors Kloses Foodland who provide prize money for the singles, pairs and fours, and triples sponsor Warren Murdoch.

Warren has played bowls in the Hills for over 50 years, is a life member of both HBA and Lenswood, and multiple champ of champ winner in singles, pairs, and fours formats.  Warren was dissappointed in being unable to attend due to contracting Covid – but his sentiments and best wishes were relayed to all of the players and spectators.

There will now be a break from Wednesday and Saturday pennant bowls over the coming week while the Men’s Country Carnival events are played in Adelaide, and only Division II playing on Wednesday 8th February 2023.  Champ of Champ event will resume on Friday 17th February 2023 when Lenswood Club host the twilight pairs.