Team Packer win Masters Fours
The finals of the Bethanie Doubleview Men’s Masters Fours were concluded yesterday afternoon with a very strong combination taking the title and lions share of the $6,000 prizemoney.
The rink skipped by Cody Packer (Osborne Park) with Anthony Williams (Manning), Dale Marsland (Manning) and Lewis Grigg (Osborne Park) dominated the final with a 17-8 victory over the South Perth team of Scott Walker, Neale Griffin, Adrian Durrant and Mitch Biglin.
Twenty quality teams entered the revitalised Masters Fours which had not been seen on the WA Calendar for many years. The event which is part of the Dyenamic Masters Series is sure to grow in popularity in future years if it can find a permanent spot on a packed bowls calendar. The generous sponsorship provided by Bethanie Group will surely attract the interest of more players next season.
Earlier in the day the composite side skipped by Brad Henley progressed to the semi finals with a strong 16-5 win over Lee Such’s Manning team which included state singles winner Blake Butler. Henley’s rink then took it right up to the South Perth side in the semi final and led for most of the match with a 10-7 advantage after 12 ends. Walker and his team mates were able to lift in the late stages however to level the scores at 10-10 on the 14th end before clinching their spot in the final by winning the last end. The other semi final was a lot more one sided as Packer’s crew were rampant against the Dave Rankin’s composite side of Bill Brandsma, Stewart Gosstray and Nic Reagan as they quickly opened up a lead early, extending the margin to 14-5 and finally closing out at 19-5 without playing the last scheduled end.
In the final Packer’s team was once again right on the job starting in great fashion to lead 4-1 after 3 ends of the scheduled 17 ends. They were always in control with the score progressing to 8-2 after 6 ends and then 12-2 after 9 ends. It looked a long way back for the South Perth side however they did give it their best shot. They claimed the next three ends with two singles and a big three shots which closed the score to 12-7 after 12 ends. However the champions duly responded scoring a three of their own to once again take control at 15-7. Some very tight ends followed as the score progress to 16-8 and when they claimed a single on the 16th end the title was secured.
It was a great hit-out for WA state skip Packer and several of his team mates as they begin to gear up for the Australian Sides Championships in April.
Bethanie Doubleview Men’s Masters Fours Results
In the race to see who will be crowned Masters Series bowler of the year John Slavich 92 pts and Shane Knott 74 pts still head the rankings with Anthony Williams 69 and Lee Such and Cody Packer both on 57 pts the only other players able to take the $1000 cash and Aero bowls, bag and shoes awarded to the winner.
The next Masters competition will be the Women’s Masters Triples at Osborne Park which is open for entries with the final event to decide the Masters Series is the Stirling Mixed Masters Pairs which will now be held on May 10-12. More info available at https://www.bowlswa.com.au/dyenamic-masters-series/
