RUGBY: NARROMINE GORILLAS
The Gorillas undertook their longest road trip of the season so far, travelling to Bathurst to face the students at CSU. In fresh conditions, with the crispness of Fridays snowfall still on the breeze, the boys from the west turned up the heat to run out winners in both grades.
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Charlie Tuck was the star for the visitors, scoring the first try of the match from a rolling maul, which was to be the first of his four tries on the day! Tim Gainsford was back from “maternity leave” and on the score sheet soon after to have the Gorillas seemingly coasting at 10-0 after as many minutes.
The students then showed off their attacking prowess with fullback Lochie Robinson slicing through the Gorillas from broken play to score the first of his three tries for the match. Tuck and Robinson scored once more for their teams to round out first half doubles and have the game evenly poised at 17-12 heading into the break.
The break came at a good time for the Gorillas as they knew they needed to up the intensity if they were to deny CSU who were playing a carefree and confident brand of rugby. Early in the second half, a short side raid from Tim Allworth and Mick Harris put winger Strath Munro away down the touchline. Munro was run down by the opposition hooker but showed great strength to bump off the would-be-tackle and score in the corner.
The game was opening up and the small but appreciative crowd on hand was enjoying the running rugby on display. Robinson completed his hat-trick in a classy performance for the students, and Tuck went one better bagging the next two to take his tally to four and give the Gorillas some breathing space on the scoreboard.
Narromine would cross twice more for the match through Jono Sharkey and Sam McLeod, with CSU bagging another two of their own through Thomas Graham and Joseph Doyle, taking the match total to 13 tries. The full-time score read 46-29 to the Gorillas and sees them sit undefeated atop the ladder after the first full round of competition fixtures.
This is a massive effort considering four of these five games have been on the road. Best on ground for Narromine were Charlie Tuck, Jono Sharkey and Bill Rybak. Narromine 46 (Charlie Tuck 4, Tim Gainsford, Strath Munro, Jono Sharkey, Sam McLeod Tries; Strath Munro 3 Conv.) Def
CSU 29 (Lochie Robinson 3, Thomas Graham Joseph Doyle Tries; Jack Keppel 2 Conv). Second grade continued their winning ways beating a very determined CSU outfit 25-19. Evergreen prop Andrew Gibson picked up a double, supported by Hayden Everett and Mitch Rixon who both got on the scoresheet. Best on ground for seconds were Mitch Rixon, Jack Neill and Jai Delboux. Seconds also remain undefeated after five rounds. The Gorillas host the Mudgee Wombats next weekend, so get down to Cale Oval and cheer the boys on!
Bowls
The boys played by the boys in red trousers was pretty hot at times, particularly in the A pairs Championship matches I viewed. On Saturday afternoon Codey Anning and Ben Clark were serving it up to Budd Cape and Robbie Stanford and at 15/08 after 13 ends were certainly in the box seat to cause an upset, but bowls being what it is, a little bit of luck saw Budd and Robbie pick up some seven shots the next couple of ends to bring it all level with just five ends to play, and with the wind knocked out of their sails Codey and Ben struggled the championship ends, whilst Budd and Robbie grew in confidence and as a consequence won the last four ends on the trot to wrap up the match 22/16 and advance to the semi-finals of this event.
Saturday afternoon saw Trent and “Frenchy” venturing into uncharted waters. The first half of the match it was reasonably plain sailing. Around end 12 Typhoon Terry McDonald and the world pool bowls of Eddie McPhee put a Spin on things for Trent and “Frenchy” and some eight ends of unanswered scoring from this duo put a “kybosh” on any thoughts of them advancing any further in this event.
The final score of 27/09 in favour of Eddie and Terry probably wasn’t a true reflection of how close the match actually was, but in the end that’s what was recorded. The final quarter-final confrontation saw Adam Jermyn and Steve Buttsworth Just edge out Bruce Maher and Aaron Clark 19/18.
There was never any more than four or five shots in all the way through and even in the end, the match was decided on a little bit of good fortune, bad fortune, for despite Aaron playing a terrific trailing shot with his last bowl, the jack went two or three inches too far to land next to the oppositions bowl and thus “Buttsy” had the luxury of not having to play his last bowl but simply claim the shot and the match.
So this now puts us out to the semi-finals of this event, but owing to player involvement in the Zone Championships next week, these matches will now be scheduled for the weekend May 28-29. So depending on results at the zone championships May 28-29 will see Adam Jermyn and Steve Buttsworth take on Budd Cape and Robbie Stanford in one match whilst Ross Edden and Peter Payne will tackle Eddie McPhee and Terry McDonald in the other game.
Nominations for the A Singles and B Singles Championships close shortly and hopefully we should be able to finish these events before the end of July, which will allow our Club champion to compete in the Zone Champion of Champions event. Social Bowls saw Noel Delboux, Dale McCafferty and Don Sullivan atop the podium on Thursday courtesy of a strong win. Sunday morning chook run went to Mr W Wilkie and partner Richard Hyde create a bit of mayhem to trounce Lionel and Pud and win the day comfortably. Best of luck to Robert French competing in the seniors side championships at Wollongong, and to all Narromine teams competing in the various Zone Pairs events next weekend.
MEN’S GOLF
Last Saturday we had 13 starters in a 4BBB sponsored by Ron Green and the Veteran Golfers, Ben Rush and Luke Hutchison had 53 points to win from Rob Gainsford and Brian Masling on 46 points. Ball winners were Andrew MacQueen and Luke Hutchison with 44 points. Best individual score was Ben rush with 42 points. NTPs ninth Rob Gainsford and tenth Scott Magill.
On Sunday we had 22 starters in a 4BBB which was won by Ross and Carol King with 48 points from Mick McKean and Phil Harding with 44 points. Also on 44 points were Chris and Dale Harding. NTPs ninth Michelle Ashdown and Tony Harding tenth Dale Harding and Peter Gainsford. Next weekend we have a two Person Ambrose for the Sharpe Family Day with lunch and plenty of prizes. On Sunday we have a 4BBB sponsored by the Club
Gerries Golf
Double for Willis: Once again there was an excellent roll up of 18 players for the weekly Gerries golf competition played on the front nine of Royal Narromine. The event was what was called as a "Mulligan Competition" and very few players were familiar with the event.
The one person who was very familiar with the event was our " El Supremo " Terry Willis and you have guessed it right, he returned a score of 34 Stableford points to blitz the field.Well done Terry, we will have to check the handicap book next week to ensure the handicapper has done his job on the winners. Runner up was Ron Green on 29 points. The NTP went of Bill Burke with a fine shot but unfortunately only one golf ball was in the pot. The NAGA prize for the week went to Charlie Burrowes.
Attention then turned to the Pool competition where another good field was assembled. The decision was made for Ross King and Chris Harding to play the final which drew howls of opposition but the decision was final.The opening match went to Mal Richardson and Gus Smith who defeated Bill Burke and Bob Fletcher. The second game went to Charlie Burrowes and Terry Willis who defeated Mal McIntyre and Norm Lewis. Burrowes and Willis won the preliminary final against Mal Richardson and Gus Smith. They then challenged Chris Harding and Ross King in the Grand Final.
This event was a real thriller and even though Harding and King were of he grass, they went down in a popular win to Burrowes and Willis. Burrowes was seen at his very best and carried Willis to his first major double of the season. This afternoon the Gerries will attack the back nine with a Stableford competition to the hit off at 3pm. Players are reminded the Veterans Annual Open tournament will be played tomorrow with a hit off at 9am, an 18 hole Stableford and there will be competitions for both men and women. Entries from 8am.