Sorrento win Over 60’s Pairs
Sorrento’s Chris Lander and Pauline Bourne have combined to take out the Senior Recreation Council Mixed Over 60’s Pairs as the competition finals were completed at Manning Bowling Club yesterday.
A record field of 84 teams took to the greens on Monday as the competition got under way in what is now one of the most popular events on the calendar despite having been on the calendar only five seasons.
The winners Lander and Bourne played exceptionally well right from the start as they cruised through sectional play with 3 wins + 25 shots. Playing in the alignment round they were forced to win another five matches to claim the championship and survived a few close encounters along the way.
In the final against surprise packets Joseph Rollnik (Valley) and Nerrida Porteous (Sorrento) it was a slow start by Lander and Bourne who trailed 8-1 in the early stages. Club mate Porteous was doing the best in the leaders dual at this stage however Bourne then lifted her play, the result was that Lander and Porteous went on a scoring spree as they raced to a 16-9 lead. Skip Rollnik was forced to play weight on many of those ends with Bourne right on the jack and despite a few dead ends couldn’t overcome the draw power of his opposition.
Rollnik and Porteous tried valiantly over the remaining ends of the match but Lander and Bourne were able to match them before clinching the title 19-14.
For journeyman Lander who took up the sport in his 20’s, represented WA in the 1990’s and has played at the top level for 30+ years it was due reward for a number of good performances in the Over 60’s events finally clinching his first title in this age bracket. Bourne who won the Women’s Champion of Champion Singles in 2017 also added her first Over 60’s win to her bowls resume.
Bowls WA would like to thank all the participants in this event, the host clubs and our valued sponsors the Seniors Recreation Council of WA.
Photos from the SRCWA Mixed Over 60’s Pairs courtesy of Martin Yates Seniors Recreation Council of WA
