Busselton Ladies end long drought
news from the Busselton Bowling Club Not since 1983/84 has the Busselton Women Bowlers first division side won the South West pennant flag. A Thirty three year drought was reason for the twelve girls and their many supporters to shout like teenage rock fans when the last team to finish did the impossible and scored five shots on the last end to defeat long time rivals Capel by two shots.
Jennie Bruce, Elizabeth Wilson, Joan Vigors & Karen Gaglia started well and the five scored on the third end helped put them in a positive mode as they scored every second end until the fifteenth. From then on they played exceptional bowls to score on each end to win 22/16. Gail Botting, Nancy Gordon, Elizabeth Thomas and Sylvia Tillotson struggled initially scoring just six shots in eleven ends. The skip, Gail promptly then kicked the scoreboard and magic happened. The girls scored six in three ends doubling their score. The closeness of the competition was more evident in their game when on many occasion they had shots in the head however the opposition repeatedly found ways to either move the kitty or wriggly in and take the shot. Botting’s team went down 14/24. With just one team to finish and all the spectators chewing their fingernails the team of Judy Rice, Helen Paganoni, Jean Sawkins and Linda Burgin needed to score three to win for Busselton. Burgin and Sawkins, two young members new to first division, kept their nerve and produced outstanding shots close to the jack. This immediately put pressure on Capel players as all eyes were on them to perform. Paganoni and Rice continued to play defensive shots and neither were aware of their chance of winning the flag as they continued to concentrate on their own game. The Bunbury Club host for the finals erupted in a roar when five finger were raised to end the game their total 23/17, the result giving Busselton the aggregate 59/57 and the flag. The unlucky Lyn Burrows who was lead for the Bruce team had played all year until the grand final however was there to celebrate the win.
Men’s weekend pennant preliminary final was played on Sunday at the Busselton Bowling Club. First Division Red defeated Collie in the first final and went straight into the grand final and first Busselton Black defeated Brunswick after 25 ends, they then went on to play the loser of the first final Collie in the afternoon over another 25 ends. Fifty ends in one day is very draining especially on fast greens and in hot conditions. It can certainly become the fittest team that wins rather than the best. Busselton Black was unsuccessful in their second attempt and the grand finale of first division weekend pennants will be played by Busselton Red vs. Collie. Busselton Midweek Red team has already won their grand final and the club is hopeful of a triple grand final result. Two first division Men’s teams and a first division Women’s.
Playing at Busselton on Sunday was the Western Australian State Men’s team against the best from the lower South West Zone that were available at short notice given that our finals were being played. They travelled to Busselton to bond as team and to practice on grass greens before heading to Canberra to play against other states. The most noticeable aspect of their game that spectators commented on was the aggressive way in which they played.
Shirley Silverman – Busselton Bowling Club
