Women’s Novice Champions of Club Champions Results
The Yanchep Bowling Club are celebrating as they welcome their first ever Women’s Novice Champion of Champion Singles winner back home with Tamara Arnold too consistent for Mt Pleasants Mary Thomas at the Morley Bowling Club.
The First Semi-Final saw Arnold take on Manning’s Helen Lamb. Arnold jumped out of the blocks quickly with a three, but Lamb responded just as quick with a three of her own to keep things level. Another three followed by a two and a single saw Arnold push out to an early lead at 9-3. Once again Lamb responded and won five consecutive ends to not only draw level but to put her nose in front at 9-10. However, it was Tamara Arnold who was able to get the big scores when it mattered and with another three and two twos over the next five ends, Arnold pushed the score to 17-12. Helen Lamb continued to fight back but had to settle for singles, so was unable to close the lead and with a run of three ends in a row, Tamara Arnold closed out the semi-final 21-14 and booked her place in the afternoon final.
The second semi-final saw Mary Thomas up against Ellenbrook’s Susan Edwards. Thomas got off the mark with a single on the first end but then Edwards powered away to establish a 2-10 lead. Thomas slowly got her game going and a single on the seventh end was the start of a four-end run to draw level at 10-10. A three to Edwards saw a mini lead re-established but consecutive twos saw Thoms swing back to grab the lead for the first time since the first end. Thomas was then able to continue on her way by winning six of the last seven ends to beat Helen Lamb 21-15 and book her place in the final.
A sedate start to the final saw both Tamara Arnold and Mary Thomas exchange singles for the first four ends to see the score sit at 2-2. It was then that Arnold struck with a full count of four shots to lead 6-2. Thomas struck back with a two, but Arnold took her own two and then followed that up with a single to lead 9-4. A single to Thomas was again answered with interest, with Arnold gaining a three to build a match winning seven shot lead at 12-5.
Each time Thomas got a score, Arnold was able to answer with a bigger score and at 18-10 in the 21up final, the end looked close at hand. However, Mary Thomas was not going to be beaten easily and won three ends in a row to climb to 14-18 and playing at a high standard. A single to Arnold edged her closer to the trophy and then a further single saw her within touching distance. Finally, on the 23rd end, Tamara Arnold got the last single required to defeat Mary Thomas 21-14 and be declared the 2023 Women’s Novice Champion of Champion Singles winner representing Yanchep.