The Season’s Review. 2023 – 24.

Representative.

New Zealand Representatives:

Lance Pascoe represented NZ @ World Champs in Australia, Aug. 29 – Sept. 10.   

Emily Belton was a coach for the Blackjacks.

Congratulations Lance.    

Lance was selected for the Trans Tasman bowls internationals, 2 – 4 February 2024 held at the Naenae Bowling Club, Wellington

   Congratulations to Emily Belton who was involved with coaching and support.
Bowls New Zealand High Performance Squad: Gary Lawson, Lance Pascoe, Kelvin Scott, Emily Belton, team support.
Canterbury Southern Quad: Men: Liam Eathorne, Nathan Glasson, Kelvin Scott.   Women: Tania Woodham, Fiona Frew, Jan Shirley, Kim Rowlands, Nylla Tamati.
Canterbury for the Super Sixes competition:  Women: Jan Shirley, Nylla Tamati, Tania Woodham,  Fiona Frew, Kim Rowlands      Men: Liam Eathorne, Kelvin Scott, Nathan Glasson
2023 Intercentre: Men’s Intercentre Team: Kelvin Scott, Nathan Glasson, Lance Pascoe
Women’s Intercentre Team: Tania Woodham, Jan Shirley (Withdrew)

Pre Christmas Results 2023.

Pre Christmas Highlights 2023.

* Moving into our fabulous new clubrooms.
* Lance Pascoe represented NZ @ World Champs in Australia, Aug. 29 – Sept. 10.
* Lance Pascoe being selected for the Trans Tasman tests to be held in February.
* Emily Belton was a coach for the Blackjacks @ World Champs in Australia, Aug. 29 – Sept. 10 and also will be for the Trans Tasman tests to be held in February.
* AC 2/4s EP2 won their division. EP3 and EP1 came 2nd. [Incidentally EP1 had more wins than the winners, Halswell 1.]
* Women’s fives won their division.
* AC pairs came 2nd in their section.
* Men’s double pairs, EP1 2nd in their section.
* The great performance of the Div. 2 7s team that was placed 1st in section play and moved on to post section where they went out first round.
* The premier sevens side [2nd] that moved into post section and eventually winning. The men’s premier sevens team went through undefeated and consequently won the Centre Sevens title for the fifth consecutive time.
* O65 EP4 gaining second, a rained out final day may have prevented a 1st place.
* Other good performances by O65, EP2 second and EP1 third.

Both the premier men’s 3/4s and the women’s premier 2/4s were both placed 6th, just managing to avoid relegation. The players would have been disappointed with these results. The men were handicapped by the unavailability of players, some for the entire rounds, others for partial participation.

Bowls New Zealand Events:
National Pairs and Singles.

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National Singles and Pairs 2024.     Host Centre: Christchurch
Several of our members took part in the nationals that were held in Christchurch , January 2 – 9. Elmwood Park again showed its strength with several strong performances.
It has been a successful time for Elmwood Park members, 6 men have qualified for post section singles and 6 ladies’ pairs team involving 9 EP members have done likewise. 6 men qualified for post section pairs.
Singles:
R. Cook W W W L W p/s L   L. Eathorne W W W W W W p/s W W L   N. Glasson W W W W p/s L   S. Jury-Jane L L L L L.   G. Lawson W W W W p/s L   G. McClurg L L L L     L. Pascoe W W W W W p/s W L     G. Porter L W W L L    K. Scott W W W W p/s L
B. Morel L W W L      Ta. Woodham L L L W   C. Buchanan L L W L L
Pairs:
R. Cook G. McDonald W W L L W     K. Bingham S. Crowhurst L L L L     N. Glasson J. King L W L W L W p/s L     G. Lawson T. Grantham W W W W W p/s W W W W W SF W     G. McClurg B. Wells L L L L L      P. McKinnel B. Burke L W W L      L. Pascoe J. Hill W W W WW p/s W W W W SF L      G. Porter S. Jane W W L W W p/s L      K. Scott S. McIllroy W W W W W p/s W W L    T. Smith S. Broomhall W W L W L W p/s W L
C. Buchanan L. O’Callaghan W L W W W p/s W L   F. Frew P. Phair W W W L L W p/s W W   B. Morel S. Keith L W W W W p/s W W   E. Porter B. Mehaffey L L L L W   K. Rowlands N. Tamati W W W W W W p/s L    J. Shirley K. McKerihen W W W  W L p/s W W    Ta. Woodham S. Hodges L W L W W W p/s L
Open Disability Singles:
J. Stenhouse L W
5 – 1 – 24
In challenging conditions the semi finals in the women’s pairs got under way.
Tannith Potgieter and Briar Atkinson had a convincing win over Bev Morel and Sandra Keith 24 – 2 while Jan Shirley and Kelly McKerihen defeated Fiona Frew and Pam Phair 18 – 11.
And so to the final. It was a close game which both teams played some superb bowls. It was a game in which you perhaps felt didn’t deserve a loser. Congratulations to Jan and Kelly. a superb performance, a close but deserved win 15 – 14.

  Women’s pairs gold medalists   Women’s pairs bronze medalists.     The winners.
6 – 1 – 24

8 – 1 – 24

And now to the quarter finals. Two club members remain in what appears to be a hotly contested final day. A possibility is that both our members play off for the final. Good luck Lance and Gary.
9 – 1 – 24
   Alas, not to be as Lance Pascoe and Jamie Hill [bronze medalists] were eliminated in the semi final while Gary Lawson and Tony Grantham won their semi.
And so to the final with Lawson and Grantham hoping to make it two in a row.

It looked a certainty when they were up 12 – 4 but the Kellehers showed great resolve to make it up to 15 – 13 on the final end. An unfortunate final bowl took his own out and a win for Gary Lawson and Tony Grantham. Well done.
Veteran lawn bowler Gary Lawson won his seventh national pairs title as he and Tony Grantham defended their title. It was a tense final few ends, but the Lawson-Grantham pairing held the advantage at 15 – 13 up with one of the 18 ends to play. A solitary shot on the final end clinched it. It was Gary’s 16th national title.

Bowls New Zealand: National Mixed Pairs and Fours.

National fours and mixed pairs.    Host Centre: Taranaki
Once again we had several of our club members taking part in these nationals and we wished them good luck.
Fours: 22-25 February                Mixed Pairs: 26-29 February
Men’s Fours:
Lance Pascoe, Shannon McIlroy, Kelvin Scott, Craig Tinker  W W W W W dnp   P/s L      Gary Lawson, Jamie Hill, Tony Grantham, Neville Rodda L W W W W dnp p/s W W L

Women’s Fours:
Bev Morel, Lynda Milne, Linley O’Callaghan, Christine Buchanan L W L W W W p/s W W L

National Lawn Bowls Champions Crowned in Taranaki

Over 160 fours teams descended upon Taranaki to contest the men’s and women’s National Championship Fours titles over four days of intense competition.

Defending champions Rodney Greaney, Paul Matheson, Adrian Robins and Kevan Greenwood fell at an early hurdle during their attempt to become the first ‘back to back’ men’s fours winners since Rowan Brassey, Jamie Hill, Mike Reid and Ross Haresnape acheived the feat in 2003.

Other strong teams skipped by World and National Champions such as Gary Lawson, Sam Tolchard, Lance Pascoe, Blake Signal, Peter Belliss and Dan Delaney all also fell by the wayside as the tournament progressed, with English International Sam Tolchard losing a tightly contested semi-final against the eventual champion team.

The champion team was skipped by the now three-time national champion, Mike Galloway, with David Clark, Martin Dixon and Steve Fisher rounding out his team.

It was the second taste of success for Clark, who has previously won the New Zealand Pairs title with Galloway.

For Dixon and Fisher this championship comes as their first Open National Title- with Steve Fisher now joining an illustrious list of players who’ve won Open National Titles in both indoor and outdoor bowls.

They defeated a valiant Manawatu team skipped by Dean Gilshnan, who had Phil Skoglund Jr, Matt Pearson and Scott McGavin in his team.

In the women’s event, defending champions Val Smith, Deb White, Ashleigh Jeffcoat, Kimberley Hemingway were stymied in their attempt to emulate the legendary Millie Khan, who was the skip of the last team to go ‘back to back’ in the women’s fours, when she won the title in 2002 with Jan Khan, Mina Paul and Marina Khan.

Losing to the team skipped by Kaye Bunn- who then suffered an agonising one shot semi final defeat at the hands of the eventual champions.

Some of the strong teams looking to stymie their efforts are skipped by Selina Goddard, Dale Rayner, Wendy Jensen, Clare Hendra and Bev Morel.

Dale Rayner and her team of Kaaren Guilford, Reen Belliss, Linda Ralph played exceptionally well as a team to win the final in a convincing fashion.

This win extended the record of Dale and Reen Belliss- who’d both won open national titles before.

For Kaaren Guilford and Linda Ralph, this championship marks their first success at national open level despite them both sporting formidable ”Bowls CVs”
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Mixed Pairs:
Kelvin Scott, Tayla Bruce W W W W dnp dnp    Gary Lawson, Wendy Jensen W W  L  W   W   dnp      Ian Milne, Bev Morel W W L W L L     Christine Buchanan, Taylor Horn W W W W dnp dnp     Seddon Jury-Jane, Ange Francis L L W W W L
Kelvin Scott, Tayla Bruce lost a quarter final to eventual winners Selina Goddard and Sheldon Bagrie-Howley.

Bowls New Zealand National 7s Interclub.

Four sevens teams competed on section play on Sunday, Dec. 10.
Div 1 men: Fours: J. Flint P. McKinnel L. Eathorne B. Burke Pairs: N. Glasson R. Cook Singles: K. Scott
Div 2 men: Fours: T. Marshall R. Hooper B. McIntosh T. Smith Pairs: S. Bowden I. Rule Singles: G. Porter
Div 1 women: Fours: B. Morel N. Tamati P. Phair C. Buchanan Pairs: J. Shirley F. Frew Singles: T. Woodham
Div 2 women: Fours: P. Rowley MA Johnstone J. McKinnel J. Brown Pairs: K. Rowlands E. Belton Singles: E. Porter

	Singles	Pairs	Fours	Played	Won	Lost	Drew	Place
Men Div 1 EP1	WLW	LWW	LWL	9	5	4		2nd
Men Div 2 EP2	WLW	WWD	WLW	9	6	2	1	1st
Women Div 1 EP1	LW	LL	WL	6	2	4		3rd
Women Div 2 EP2	LLL	LWW	DWW	9	4	4	1	2nd

Congratulations to the two men’s teams who have qualified for post section play next week.
17 – 12 – 23                 Centre Sevens.
The men’s premier sevens team went through undefeated and consequently won the Centre Sevens title for the fifth consecutive time. This was a particularly praiseworthy performance as there were three elite players who were unavailable and who had played in the previous wins.
Many doubted they would succeed in their quest for five in a row.
First up was Belfast, a team that had defeated EP in the premier 3/4s by 3 – 0 earlier in the season. Second they defeated Oxford and finally accounted for a strong Christchurch team
Well done guys.

Fours: J. Flint P. McKinnel L. Eathorne B. Burke Pairs: N. Glasson R. Cook Singles: K. Scott
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There were some changes and the pictured team was not the one representing the club.
Singles: K. Scott
Pairs: G. Lawson   S. Ditfort
Fours: L. Pascoe   P. McKinnel   J. Flint   R. Cook.
Manager: J. Wagner

Opponents: Fri. 5th: Clyde W W L
A big win to Kelvin Scott in the singles 21-3, set up the team early, with the Lawson/Ditfort pairs combo then running out 18-14 winners. Lance Pascoe narrowly missing with his final bowl to win the fours, who lost 14-12 on the last end.
Pukekohe Cos W W W A clean sweep for the lads against Pukekohe, with 3 very strong wins, leaving us top of the table after 2 rounds. Scott 21-13, Lawson pair 25-8, Pascoe Fours 25-12.
Kaitaia Church Road The points have been shared with Kaitaia late this afternoon. A loss in the singles, 6 – 21,  draw in the pairs, 16 – 16, and a great come from behind victory for the fours, 13 – 12, means we will finish the day in a good position.
Sat. 6th: Bowls Hastings Another clean sweep for the team against Hastings this morning, which means we have qualified for the quarterfinals, with one round to play. 3 very strong wins with Scott 21-14, Lawson pair 20-7 and Pascoe four 19-8.
Durie Hill Unfortunately the team had 1ts first loss of the tournament in the dead rubber against Durie Hill, in the last round of sectional play. Fours, 15 – 12, Singles, 18 – 21, Pairs, 11 – 20. We therefore qualified second and played our friends from Stoke in the quarterfinals.
Post section: April 5 & 6.
Quarter Final: v Stoke After one of the greatest national interclub 7’s quarter finals, Elmwood Park has beaten Stoke by the narrowest of margins! The Elmwood Park fours lost on the last end by 1. In the singles, Kelvin Scott was down, before drawing within half a foot of the ditch, to eventually win the end and the match 21-20. This meant it came down to the pairs and after Lawson played a bomb to be holding 3, a couple of missed drives from Stoke, meant Elmwood Park won the tie, 2 games to 1.
Unfortunately the fairy tale is over, with the lads losing in the semi final against Auckland this morning. After a huge singles win to Kelvin 21-1, the Lawson pairs ended up losing at the death, 15 – 16. The Pascoe four fought courageously, but after giving Auckland a big lead, they couldn’t rein it in during the final ends. A 3rd place finish, bronze medal. is still very commendable, nothing to be ashamed of but the weekend has finished with a lot of “ifs, buts, maybes”.
We go again next year!!
Great effort guys, you have done the club proud.
   Bronze medalists.

Local Tournaments:

Fendalton retained the Duster by 10 games to 6 [158 – 134]

Brian Smith and Milly McKenzie with the Duster.

13 – 1 – 24
The Elmburn Shield.
The game against Burnside for the Elmburn Shield was rescheduled. The decision was made to protect the green because of the expected high temperatures.
16 – 3 – 24
The annual Elmburn Shield, EP v Burnside, played in fine weather and a good track.

This was the 44th occasion the shield has been contested and this year it resulted in a win for Elmwood Park, 6½ – 5½.
Burnside 23   EP 21

   EP life member Tim Sandrey taking back the Elmburn Shield from Burnside executive member Alastair Salt.

   Socialising.

27 – 3 – 24
The Woodelm Shield.

This annual fixture did not take place because Woodend contacted us to let us know that they could not get the numbers for that date.   They endeavoured to get the numbers so that it could be played on Saturday 6th April.

6 – 4 – 24
Elmwood Park retained the Woodelm Shield with 8 wins, 1 draw and 3 losses.

Respective presidents, EP’s Neil Johnstone and Woodend’s Phil Harris at the official part of the day.

 25 – 11 – 23

1]   P. Felton   J. Irving   N. Buchanan   P. Smith

2]  B. Lyttle   D. Johnstone   D. Kutia   K. White 

7 – 1 – 23
James Egan Memorial Triples:

President’s Triples: 7 – 10 – 24
  3 – 2 – 24   Not again!! The Presidents Triples are to be rescheduled.
23 – 3 – 24   To be rescheduled. Not enough teams. Disappointing.
13 – 4 – 24
The President’s Triples was played today in cool, dull and bleak conditions. Fourth try!!!

Winners:   B. McIntosh   J. Irvine   R. Burtt
2. P. Rowley   S. Herd   L. Foster
3. P. Trevella   B. Smith   P. Smith

What was disappointing about this was the very small number of participants. Unfortunate really as this was a “last minute attempt” to play this event and it was up against another tournament, Burnside 6s, in which at least two EP teams were playing; this is not a criticism.
Next season we had better hope for better weather! And less postponements.

20 – 3 – 24
Veteran Pairs:

20 teams competed today in the veteran pairs.

Winners: N. Buchanan and P. Nicholson.

Centre Events

Mixed Pairs: Several of our club members were involved in the Centre mixed pairs during Labour Weekend. Interesting some were under other club colours.
N. Johnstone MA Johnstone;      R. Hooper F. Frew;      B. Morel;      S. Bowden J. McKinnel,   B. Burke B. Burke ;    N. Tamati [Canterbury] P. McKinnel P. Phair;    K. Rowlands [Sumner]
Congratulations to B. Burke, P. McKinnel, B. Morel, K. Rowlands and N. Tamati who progressed to post section.
Congratulations to K. Rowlands who made the final only to be defeated by Andy Cockroft of Burnside.
O60 singles: N. Johnstone and B. Morel [Withdrew]
Neil Johnstone qualified for post section but lost a close one in the first round,
Men. Centre Singles: G. Porter, J. Flint and L. Eathorne.
J. Flint and L. Eathorne made post section. Jonathan Flint [2nd r0und] and Liam Eathorne [1st round] were casualties in the Centre singles post section.
Women. Centre Singles: N. Tamati and T. Woodham.
T. Woodham made post section but was beaten in round 1.
Men. Centre Triples: T. Marshall, G. Porter and S. Jury-Jane, J. Flint, L. Eathorne and I. Rule, P. McKinnel, S. Bowden and B. Burke. Congratulations to J. Flint, L. Eathorne and I. Rule who qualified for post section play where they won their first game but were defeated in round 2 by former club member Rodney Greaney, from Halswell.
Women. Centre Triples: B. Morel, N. Tamati and J. Main, K. Rowlands, F. Frew and T. Woodham and P. Phair, MA Johnstone and J. McKinnel. No team reached post section.
O60 Triples: B. Morel, T. Smith and C. Buchanan and T. Marshall, K. Rowlands and R. Hooper entered this event. The T. Marshall three went through section play unbeaten and progressed to post section play. They won their first round game but were well beaten by a very good Belfast team in round 2.
Mixed Fours: P. McKinnel, P. Phair, MA and N. Johnstone, B. Morel, T. Woodham, T. Smith and S. Bowden and K. Rowlands, N. Tamati, E. Clarke and J. Walcott qualified for post section play in the Centre mixed fours. The Morel four lost 13 – 14 to Allenton, eventual finalist while the Rowlands four lost 6 – 21 to the eventual winners, Burnside’s Mike Small. 
Men’s Centre Fours. J. Flint, P. McKinnel, L. Eathorne and I. Rule.
R. Hooper, T. Smith, G. Porter and S. Jury-Jane made post section but went out first game.
Women’s Centre Fours: J. Shirley, B. Morel, T. Woodham and C. Buchanan made the finals day and K. Rowlands, F. Frew, J. Main and N. Tamati made post section but fell to a close result in the first round. Hard luck to our finalists who were beaten, the Bev Morel four 15 – 20, P. Phair replacing J. Shirley, the lost on an extra end. Unlucky!!!
O60 Pairs. K. Rowlands & R. Hooper, B. Morel & T. Smith, T. Marshall & C. Buchanan and N. Johnstone & P. Phair played in this.
K. Rowlands & R. Hooper, B. Morel & T. Smith, and N. Johnstone and P. Phair qualified for post section play.
From the strange but true story book! Have you ever heard of a qualifying team that advanced through to post section play by playing only one game? And a defeat too. Well it happened to K. Rowlands & R. Hooper. Game  one and three they won by default. I bet that hasn’t happened too often!
Well done to B. Morel & T. Smith who reached the quarter finals while N. Johnstone and P. Phair were eliminated 13 – 14 by J. Connolly of Halswell who then went on to eliminate B. Morel.
Men’s Pairs: G. Porter & S. Jury-Jane, J. Flint & I. Rule , S. Bowden & B. Burke, P. McKinnel & L. Eathorne qualified.
Congratulations to Paul McKinnel and Liam Eathorne in defeating Woolston Park 15 – 8 in the Centre pairs final.
Women’s Pairs: P. Phair & J. Main , C. Buchanan & T. Woodham , B. Morel & N. Tamiti , K. Rowlands & F. Frew. P. Phair and J. Main, C. Buchanan and T. Woodham and B. Morel and N. Tamiti qualified for post section play.
Congratulations too to C. Buchanan, replacing J. Shirley, and T. Woodham who played on finals day in the women’s Centre pairs. Tayla Bruce [Burnside] defeated T.  Woodham and C. Buchanan 16 – 14. [Extra end.]
O60 Fours: N. Johnstone, K. Rowlands, MA Johnstone and P. Phair and B. Morel, C. Buchanan, J. Main and T. Smith competed in the Centre tournament. The Johnstone four progressed through to post section.

Champion of Champion Events.

Fours: Women:   B. Morel   K. Rowlands   C. Buchanan   T. Woodham. Won the Champion of Champions fours.
Men: P. McKinnel   L. Eathorne  B. Burke  I. Rule. Lost to a strong Halswell team, who advanced to the semi final, first game.
Men’s Yr 1 – 5 singles: P. Smith. Out first round to Woodend in a close one.
Men’s Yr 1 – 2 singles: L. Foster dnp
Women’s Triples: B. Morel   N. Tamati   C. Buchanan   Lost 3rd game.
Men’s Triples: G. Porter   B. Burke   S. Jury-Jane   Won 3 games, won semifinal but lost final.
Men’s Pairs: L. Eathorne & G. McClurg Out in post section. [Game 1]
Women’s Pairs: B. Morel & N. Tamiti. Lost the final 19 – 20 to Burnside. So close.
Men’s Singles: L. Eathorne Through to semi final, lost to J. van der Pennon.
Women’s Singles: T. Woodham Lost 3rd game, 17 – 18, when time ran out!!!

Post Christmas Highlights 2024.

* The success of club members in the nationals. Good performances, especially in the women’s pairs with 3 teams making it through to the semi finals involving 4 club members. What a great achievement.
J. Shirley & K. McKerihen v F. Frew & P. Phair in one semi and B. Morel & S. Keith v Tannith Potgieter & Briar Atkinson in the other.
* Well done to Liam Eathorne who made it through to the singles final 32 where he was defeated by current Blackjack Sheldon Bagrie-Howley.
There was a possibility is that both our members could play off for the pairs final.
Alas, not to be as Lance Pascoe and Jamie Hill [bronze medalists] were eliminated in the semi final while Gary Lawson and Tony Grantham won their semi.
And so to the final with Lawson and Grantham hoping to make it two in a row. And they did but not without some heart stopping moment.
* Nationals. Women’s fours: Bev Morel, Lynda Milne, Linley O’Callaghan, Christine Buchanan L W L W W W p/s W W L Went out at the quarter final stage.
* Women’s 7s First in div. 1
* Men’s 3×3 EP2, 1st, and EP1, 2nd, in div. 2
* AC8s, 2nd in div. 3
* AC pairs, 2nd in section 1
* Men’s double triples, EP2 1st and EP1 2nd in section 1
* W0men’s double triples, 3rd in div. 2
* O60 7s, a very popular competition.
* Watson Shield 3rd in section, div. 1
* Paul McKinnel and Liam Eathorne, winning Centre Pairs
* Men’s sevens who won the Centre 7s tournament with several  of our elite players being unavailable.
* Men’s sevens who came a credible third in the National Interclub Tournament.
* Champion of champions winners, the women’s fours: B. Morel   K. Rowlands [replacing J. Shirley]   C. Buchanan  T. Woodham
* Champion of champions runners up, men’s triples, G. Porter   S. Jury-Jane   B. Burke and women’s pairs, B. Morel   N. Tamati
* Champion of champions singles semi finalist L. Eathorne losing to eventual J. van der Pennen.
* The improvement of the two greens as the season went on. Great work by Steve Street, Don Baker and Kelvin Scott.

Club Championships.

2023 – 24 Champions.
   Men’s fours: I. Rule   L. Eathorne   P. McKinnel   B. Burke
   Women’s Fours: B. Morel   C. Buchanan   J. Shirley   T. Woodham

   Men’s Triples: G. Porter.  S. Jury-Jane.  B. Burke

   Women’s Triples: B. Morel   N. Tamati   C. Buchanan

   Men’s Pairs: L. Eathorne and G. McClurg
   Women’s Pairs: B. Morel   N. Tamati

 Men’s Singles. L. Eathorne

Women’s Singes: T. Woodham

Men’s Years 1 & 2 Singles: L. Foster

Men’s Years 1 – 5 Singles. P. Smith

Club Titleholders:
B. Morel   38
I. Rule   27
P. McKinnel   9
T. Woodham   7
J. Shirley   6
J. McKinnel   5 [Gold Star]
L. Eathorne   5 [Gold Star]
B. Burke   3
N. Tamati   3
C. Buchanan   2
G. Porter   1
S. Jury-Jane   1
G. McClurg   1

Issues
* The unavailability, for whatever reason, of some of our elite men for portions of or the whole season MuzzaWeb found disappointing.
* MuzzaWeb wasn’t a fan of the men’s singles one life system, bring back the two life in MuzzaWeb’s opinion.
* The lack of numbers for our Friday tournament. MuzzaWeb doesn’t believe 3 bowl triples is the answer. No idea what the answer is but some creative thinking is probably required.

Murray Scott

Results