Osborne Park duo win Over 60’s Pairs
Some 10 years on from winning the Open State Pairs good mates and Osborne Park team mates John Goddard and Gary Caffell have combined to win the Men’s Over State Pairs today at Leeming Bowling Club in a thrilling final against a gallant Mick Ryan and Joe Rollnik from Ellenbrook who played a fantastic game, the final score 16-15.
In the semi finals Goddard and Caffell survived an early scare when they trailed the Kalamunda duo of Bill Brandsma and Bob Farrant 7-1 after 4 ends. A maximum count on the next end saw them level up and they would only be behind once more. With the scores 9-10 they picked up a 3 followed by 4 two ends later to lead 16-11. They carried that margin to the finish winning 21-14.
Ryan and Rollnik saluted 17-12 however they were never seriously threated by the surprise Lake Monger duo of Graeme Davies and Brett Parker who did well to reach the semi finals. The Ellenbrook pair always holding the ascendency after jumping out to a 9-3 early lead and maintaining that advantage on the run home. A big credit to the Lake Monger pair especially Davies who was a last minute call up when one of the Parker brothers came down with covid.
The final looked a mismatched on paper with the highly credentialed Osborne Park team the hot favourites given there history and that they had been impressive with some big victories to this point of the competition. The less fancied Ellenbrook pair had survived some very close matches to make the finals but they were ready to give it their all.
Ellenbrook leader Joe Rollnik was super impressive for most of the match regularly nailing the jack however his good work was often undone by an equally impressive John Goddard. After a tight opening salvo the scores were locked at 2-2 after 4 ends before Goddard was fortunate with a drive which hit a front bowl and then dislodged every Ellenbrook bowl on the green. Goddard added an extra counter to secure a score of three and have them leading 5-2. His good fortune turned around in the next end however as Rollnik had played three exceptional bowls and Goddard once again fired but put his drive through the narrowest of gaps, an inch either way would have been a killed end and once again the scores were locked, this time at 5 apiece.
Again a series of close ends saw the scores level at 7 all before Rollnik hit another purple patch and the Ellenbrook team took a good 12-7 lead. Goddard then hit back with a series of good ends himself to level the scores for an amazing fifth time at 12-12. Another two winning ends for the Ellenbrook duo saw them leading 15-12 and the upset looked a strong possibility wit just two ends to go. Gary Caffell then played two of his best ends of the match, just when they when needed. They grabbed a one on the first of those courtesy of a front toucher to make it 13-15 before he added two close bowls on the last end. Goddad was able to play a couple of good bowls himself and suddenly Ryan was down four. Knowing if he hit the target he could win the match or possibly force and extra end the weighted shot was a touch on the narrow side but clipped one of the shot bowls through the head, unfortunately it never touched any of the other counters and the Osborne Park had saluted in a gutsy effort.
Chrizanda Hartman the Centre Manager at Fiona Stanley Hospital for GenesisCare who are first time Bowls WA sponsors was on hand to help present the finalist prizemoney along with the winners trophy and medals with Bowls WA Board member Phil Manning. Phil was able to personally recommend GenesisCare who are cancer care specialist and had helped care for his late father. Along with congratulating the winners Phil thanked all the participants along with the Bowls WA and club volunteers and host venues for their support of the event,
