Great to see 34 Thursday bowlers playing in ideal conditions except for the constant variable winds and not helped by the removal of the wind sock and corner flags by one of the pairs group who finished some 40 minutes earlier than the triples. The game decider was again the points system for the winners on 26 1/2 in Ex.PM Neil, Bob PD and Graham or Brett from the runners-up on 23 1/2 in the Palmsen couple Chris and Finn and Garry L-rentacar. The resting toucher went to Cobber Peter while the $260 jackpot was not won. Wrong bias sinners included Ex.PM Neil, Mayoress Olwyn, Paul Vander-lift, Hi-ain’t MacGregor and Dipper Ron while the raffle winners included Hottie Smith, Morse-offsider Lee, Belconnen Dicko, Chef Keith and previously mentioned Bob and Lois.

Friday twilight bowlers enjoyed a very early evening when rain started falling right up until 5 minutes after it had been called off but many not keen to get home too early honed up their skills rolling-up in very pleasant conditions as the green dried up quickly after the rain and regular bowler Brown Olive was disappointed as she recorded her season first “leaning up against-er” AKA resting toucher thus missing out on the usual $5 prize – better luck next week, Olive, when we hope the weather will be kinder.

Twilight bowls continues up to Easter and is open to all over the age of 12, weather permitting, so get your names in early by 4.45pm Friday please to help organiser Dipper Ron with the cards and if your name is down and you can’t make it, ring the club, earliest please.

In the second round of the No.5 pennant season Dalmeny away against Moruya, had a good win, by 1 shot, losing the rinks 1/2 but scoring 8/2 points. Well done boys.

The Dalmeny women played a variety of games in perfect weather. There was some pennant practice, triples and even a pairs game with some unusual skippers at the helm, all good fun. Winners, chosen by lucky rinks, were lead Jan Jones, second Barbara Pearce, third Lyn Dunbar and skip Pat Barklem with Sylvia Barman and Gail Farrell as runners-up. Anne Luke’s big green bowl was closest to the spider. Congratulations to all bowlers. Glen Pisanos and Maureen McKenzie took home the raffle prizes. The Quarterly meeting was held on Wednesday with updates on the upcoming Pennant season and our May Carnival plans. It is an exciting and busy time of year. Best of luck to our Pennant representatives and good bowling to all at Dalmeny, the friendly club.

Social Bowls Winners’ Circle

There was a good turnout on Wednesday with 58 bowlers making up nine rinks of triples and a game of pairs. The Maggsy Draw was lucky rinks and this week the winners were Rod Holman and Peter Jones (skip) who led 12 to nine after 11 ends and continued their consistent form to take their match 22 to 17 against Jeff McCusker and John McNamara (skip). Second place went to Peter Townend, Larry Hardingham and visitor Peter Crawford (skip) who were all square at 13 all after 10 ends and remained neck and neck for the rest of the match until they edged clear for a 23 to 20 win against Peter Hattam, Gerry Harvey and Peter Pickett (skip). Shorty Smart was in fine form to record the first resting toucher, at 12.50, well done Shorty.

On Saturday there was one rink of triples and three rinks of triples with the Maggsy Draw being the highest winning margin. Winners were Shane Parker and John Lonergan (skip) who came out on fire to lead 17 to two after 11 ends and maintained their good bowls to win their match 28 to 11 against Les Chapman and Jim Douglas (skip). Second place went to Max Marchant and Peter Spillane (skip) who had a good first half to lead 19 to seven after 11 ends and kept going strongly for a 24 to 16 win over Kevvie Cullen and John Scott (skip).

There was five games of triples and one game of pairs enjoying Sunday’s Joe’s Special bowls and the draw was for lowest winning margin. The winnings were shared by Kaye Whiffen, Helen Donovan and John Nicholls (skip) who had a close game throughout to take their match 14 to 12 against Anne, Pieter Vos and Jean Vos (skip). Second place went to Betty Greenshield and Bruce Rapkins (skip) who led 12 to six after 11 ends and maintained their lead to win their match 14 to 12 against Pam Grant and Tony Gors (skip).

Pennant Matches: The second round of Pennant matches was held on Saturday with both teams at home. The Grade 4 team won their match, in a nail biter, 66 shots to 53, two rinks to one and nine points to one against Bodalla. Narooma did not hit the front until the 58th end and won the final rink on the last end. Results were Peter Townend, Ray Gale, John Breust and Jay Breust (skip) won 22 to 19. John Voytas, Greg Ryan, Peter Hattam and Keith Pickett (skip) won 30 to 11. Gerry Harvey, Graham Cummins, Col Armstrong and Keith Bowater (skip) lost 23 to 14.

The Grade 6 team was defeated by Malua Bay 64 shots to 71, two rinks to one and two points to eight. Results were Ron Douglass, Jeff Iles, Paul Read and John Downie (skip) won 24 to 20. Peter Dillon, Les Waldock, Peter Jones and Neville Butt (skip) lost 9 to 33. Garry Evans, Shorty Smart, Brian Seaman and Tony Palmer (skip) won 31 to 18.

Club Pairs Championship: In round one of the Pairs Rod Holman and Peter Jones (skip) had a great game where they came back from being down nine to 14 after 11 ends to square their match at 21 all after 21 ends and then got shot on the extra end to win their match 22 to 21 against Kevvie Cullen and Ray Gale (skip). In the other match Col Armstrong and Keith Bowater (skip) led 11 to six after 11 ends and, in a top quality game, took the match 22 to 14 against Peter Hattam and Keith Pickett (skip).

For Your Diary:  Round two of the Club Pairs Championship should be played on or before Sunday. There is no Pennant play next weekend.

It was a good day for lawn bowls last Tuesday, although the weather was quite humid. Prior to play Jan Rapkins claimed the raffle prize, a meat tray donated by Rapley’s Meats, and Sue Bender won the 50 Club. A pairs game and three rinks of triples were organised for social bowls with the prize money decided by lucky rink. The winners were Betty Greenshields, Pam Grant and Mavis Hardy (skip) who were behind early on in their match but kept the pressure on to hit the lead late in the hard fought match against Aurelia Robinson, Heather McGourty and Jean Vos (skip). The Pennant matches begin this week so best of luck to the two Narooma teams.

FSCDWBA held their District Triples last week and the final was held at Narooma W.B.C. on Friday 9th February.  The final was between a team from Tuross Head and Malua Bay,  and the winners were  Averial Cox, Rose Farrington and Denise Lidbury from Tuross Head.

The second round of the 2018 Pennants season has been played and again the Tuross teams had mixed fortunes. The Grade 7 side had a very good 10–0 win away over a strong Bodalla team. The grade 5 side had a thrilling clash with Malua Bay with the result not decided until the last end. Unfortunately, the visitors were able to snatch a win. The Grade 7 side recorded their second win of the season with an excellent performance against Bodalla at Bodalla. The locals are always a difficult side and more so at home. This year they have some very experienced players in this grade and they will be a real contender for the flag. The three Tuross sides all recorded victories. Jim Madden’s side staged a good fightback to win their clash. At the 13th end they were down 13–8 but they regrouped to run out 19-16 winners. Ian Wratten’s four controlled their match early and set up a good lead. They had to withstand a fightback by their opponents. They were able to do this and won 22–18. Ron Cox led his side to a good, but low scoring, 18-12 win. Overall Tuross scored 59 shots to Bodalla’s 46 giving them an outstanding win. All three of the teams competed well in Grade 5. Joel Hilliard’s four dominated their match and led throughout. Hilliard was outstanding. He was largely responsible for the win. After leading 24–7 on the 18th end they faded to win 24–16. John Fahey’s team had a very close match and were always in with a chance. They went into the last end down 19–20. With his last bowl Fahey had the chance of grabbing victory but his bowl was just wide and they lost 23–19. After 17 ends Noel Downie’s team had a very slender 16–15 lead in a game where the scores were close throughout. However, Malua Bay dominated the last 4 ends scoring 12 shots to storm home 27–16 winners. The swing in fortunes was reflected on the ‘big board’. At the 54 end mark Tuross led 49–41 but Malua Bay finished strongly to grab the encounter 66–59. They won 9–1 overall.