Four matches were scheduled for play and in each case the results went right down to the wire with most of the matches decided by less than a dozen shots.

Game 1 saw Steve Riley defeat Peter Cross 152/142. Both players had a share of the lead on more than one occasion, but a telling 9/1 result on end 27 to Steve saw the lead slip out to double digit territory and from that point on the match held a status quo until stumps were called.

In the second encounter between Phil Harding and Arnold Gillespie, it was almost the same scenario until ends 28 and 29 where "Puddy" scored 19/1 over those two ends to edge out to a winning position when he had been trailing by one shot at the time. It was a big turnaround and thus a win to "Puddy" 152/141 being the final score.

In Game 3 Alex Sambrook dominated the final stages of his encounter with Craig Smith, so much so that the final score line of 151/129 was probably not a true indication of how close this game was for the first 23 ends when the scores were locked at 95/95.

The match was there to be won and in this case Alex went on with the job. Craig will have to wait another day.

In the final match Luke Hutchison proved that a bit of practice can help and wasdefinitely a bit quicker out of the blocks and a bit sharper than Warren Brown from the get go.

This ultimately proved the difference in the final result which saw Luke grab a 20-shot buffer after 10 ends. He only had to retain that "buffer" to finally win 151/115 and along with the other winners advance to the second round of this event.

And when is that second round I hear you ask?

Well not this coming Sunday as it is the "long weekend", however if you and your opponent wish to "get it on", a simple phone call to Don Sullivan, AKA the bowls secretary, will see him co-ordinate some green space for your match.

Last Saturday was the second running of our Annual NAIDOC Bowls Day.

Almost 30 players competed for the Bill and Norm Newman Memorial Shield.

President Kevie and his able assistants Lynda and John Edwards were in charge of the show from "go to whoa" and ensured all in attendance enjoyed the day.

more page 10

from page 11

The teams and opponents were drawn from the hat, and after two matches of 16 ends, the day's winners were Brian Payne, Noel Powell and Geoff Cape.

Other notable performances were credited to Trent Jacobsen, Lynda Edwards and Peter Cross, Murray Woolfe, Riley Cape and John Silk and Stephen Payne, Mark Hilder and Phil Harding.

Social bowls numbers were again a tad disappointing, given the "beaut" weather, but those in action certainly enjoyed their hit out.

The cards from Thursday's social bowls have had an outing in mum's washing machine, but I have been told the winners were Bob Ashdown, Bob Davis and Don Sullivan.

Sunday saw three rinks of pairs with Andrew Macqeen and Bruce Livingston collecting the main prize pool for their 12/11 win over Teddy and Robbie.

Good to see Peter "GAZ" Kelly back on the green. He managed to produce the odd side step as well but a nasty four on the last end saw him and partner Geoff lose the match 15/13, ouch!

To a couple of young fellas in Bob Ashdown and Bill Wilkie.

In the last of the pairs matches Betty Purvis and Stephen Buttsworth enjoyed a comfortable 10-shot win over Helen Woolfe and Kevin Short, but the defeated brigade won more than their share of ends to deny "Buttsy" and Betty the top prize.

Just a reminder that the bowls committee will be pushing through a few championships between now and year's end, and to that end nominations for the Mixed Handicap Pairs will close shortly.

So if you're a mind to play in this event sooner rather than later should be your trip to the notice board to avoid missing out.

Well that's about it for me for another week, hope you all enjoy the long weekend and if your playing in a tournament, best of luck.