South Tamworth’s Chris Herden lines up this shot as clubmate and opposing skip Nev White looks on. In the background (from left) Mike Whale, Graeme Nicholls and Kootingal’s Jayson Pinnock consider the situation in their semi-final. Photo: Geoff Newling 100213JA05
SOUTH Tamworth dominated the Central North District Bowling Association’s State Triples at Werris Creek Bowling and Tennis Club on the weekend.
A week after a South Tamworth four skipped by Nathan Wise won the CNDBA State Fours at Willow Tree, two South Tamworth teams won their way through to the final of the CNDBA State Triples at Werris Creek after both teams, skipped by Nev White and Les Goodchild, won their semi- finals 27-20.
The South Tamworth team of Mark Golledge, Stewart Bayliss and Nev White came from seven shots down to upset fellow clubmates Terry Cummings, Nick Golledge and Chris Herden in their Sunday afternoon semi-final while the South Tamworth team of Graeme Nicholls, Mike Whale and Les Goodchild had a 27-20 win over the Kootingal team of Jayson Pinnock, Andrew Mion and skip Bryon Cullen.
The two South Tamworth teams will play off in the final at Werris Creek, CNDBA publicity officer Brian Ward said.
Playing on the smooth carpet proved no worries for any of the players, many of whom had nothing but praise for the quick and true surface, Werris Creek president Keith Moore said.
“We’ve had a very positive response from all the players here this weekend,” Moore said.
It’s a surface Moore and club vice-president Lyn Johnson are proud of and makes their trips to CNDBA meetings all the better when other clubs talk of the cost and difficulties in keeping their natural grass greens in order.
“We’re carpet, Manilla is synthetic,” Moore reminded this journalist at Sunday afternoon’s State Triples semi- finals.
“It’s been down since December, 2008.”
He and Johnson grin, widely, when the other clubs bring up their problems and the cost of maintaining the grass greens with greenkeepers, pesticides and machinery.
“They are supposed to last 10 years,” Moore said.
“Then you turn them over!”
He wasn’t kidding.
Just like a normal house carpet, he said.
“It just depends how you look after it and how much traffic you have on it.
“If we were a club like, say South Tamworth, you’d say eight or nine years but we’re smaller and don’t have as many playing members.”
Werris Creek has around 60 registered lawn bowlers but a field of between 20 and 30 is a good one for the club.
They’ve had a few pennant wins over the years. Winning a Zone No 6s in 2010 was their last.
“We’ve lost three CNDBA No 7 Finals in playoffs too,” Moore added.
The club is also performing off the carpet too, with “new” secretary-manager Peter McNabb settling in well.
“The club has been trading much better,” McNabb said.
“We’ve change the way we operate – try to make it easier for the bowlers and tennis players.”
Moore and Johnson nod in agreement.
It means having games and events organised for them, making it easier to have fun and enjoy their games.
The bowling club’s next big event is its Mixed Pairs on February 23 followed by the Zone 3 State Pennants in April.
Later in the year the club will run its Classic Triples Carnival, their nominated CNDBA Bowler of the Year Award event.
In the meantime, it’s full steam ahead on the carpet.
Johnson, who is also a senior vice president of the NSW Past president’s Association, is trying to entice bowlers to sign up for the big Past Presidents State Carnival.
“It’s in May this year,” Johnson said.
“It’s on the Central Coast. We’re looking for more players to go down.”
