2018 National Bowling Arm Challenge Wrap
The National Bowling Arm Challenge was created in 2013 and the format is each State playing the other States in two rounds. Each Representative Side consists of fifteen players – three Teams of Five. Round one plays Singles & Fours and round two plays Pairs & Triples.
The WA Sandgropers improved on their inaugural 2017 performance with an average of eight more game shots per opposition Sides and an increase of 6 game points. A brief run down of each State includes:
WA v TAS
A strong showing from WA going into the first and second rounds against TAS with 1 Singles win and the other two games with only a 3 shot difference while the Fours came out fighting with two wins and a loss. The Pairs showed TAS dominating but not entirely with a Tie for WA in one game, while in Triples WA showed dominance winning three of three games! 2018 saw Tasmania join this event as their inaugural year – they are a welcome addition and nicely round out all six Australian States playing in this annual event.
WA v QLD
Queensland came in strong in their first round of Singles and Fours against WA with two Single wins; however, WA came out with one win while trailing QLD in all three of the Fours games with one game very close at a three-shot difference. WA performed better in the Pairs and Triples with one win in each discipline.
WA v SA
South Australia proved to be hard opponents with WA winning one game of Fours and getting a Tie in Triples. Two of the Singles games came close with a 2 and 3 shot difference, while two of the Pairs games also came close with a three and four shot difference.
WA v NSW
WA won one game of Singles and had a close game of Fours with a one shot difference, while NSW dominated the Pairs with three wins and WA came back to the forefront with two wins in the Triples alongside a close game of triples falling behind by 4 shots.
WA v VIC
VIC outplayed WA in every game with the exception of one Triples game played by Phyllis Hicks, Bill Davies and Kim Ward. Victoria again showed their dominance at this event by winning the overall Trophy despite NSW beating them as a State since the Perpetual Trophy is won by Game Points, not State Wins, with VIC winning 85 Game Points over NSW’s 81!
Perpetual Bowlers Arm National Tournament Trophy: Supplied by Bowls Australia & won 6 years by VIC
The 2019 Challenge will be held in South Australia at a venue yet to be announced and in exciting news West Austrlalia will host the 2020 National Bowling Arm Challenge!
A large thank-you to the continued support of Sponsor who’s funding purchased uniforms, supplied team training, and helped reduce costs of Side travel.
Opening Ceremony (courtesy of Pamela Bryant-Armed Bowlers Australia)
The following links can be followed for further information:
1. CLICK HERE to link to a 2018 Sandgroper Representative Side Picture including Names and Clubs.
a. https://www.bowlswa.com.au/Portals/8/Images/Inclusion/Bowling%20Arm%20Info/2018%20Team%20Photo%20with%20Names-Clubs.pdf
2. CLICK HERE to view the Bowls WA Facebook Album. All pictures supplied courtesy of Pamela Bryant of the Armed Bowlers Australia (https://armedbowlersaustralia.com)
a. https://www.facebook.com/pg/asportforlife/photos/?tab=album&album_id=2206098342794632
3. CLICK HERE to see all eight full round results as supplied by East Maitland Bowling Club
a. http://www.embc.com.au/HunterDistrictEvents
4. CLICK HERE to see this article in PDF format
