Not what was hoped for today. Post-section play for the Mixed Singles was to follow on from yesterday’s play but it has been raining most of the morning today and things are not looking promising. In theory, play can take place on the artificial green in the afternoon (no water on the surface) but the cotula green is well flooded and won’t be usable at all.
Play took place on both greens yesterday and after three rounds, twelve players had qualified. Brian Coe, Dianne Short, Mary Judd and Bronwyn McMahon drew byes and starting the post -section play were Jim Bagnall, Shoota Ballinger, Pat Wikstrom, J Adams, Les Judd, Rob Cotter, Diana McGill and Omeka Feaunati.
Play in three of the games in the last round yesterday saw very interesting results, each having a crucial finish to get a player qualified for post-section.
Murray Griffin needed to win his last game so that he could qualify and Dianne who had already won her two games, was his opponent. Things were close for a time and by the 9th end, Murray was leading 9-7. By the 19th end though, Dianne was comfortably in the lead, 19-11, but it was Murray’s turn to get things moving. and the crisis arrived for him when the score was sitting on 20 all. Alas for him. One shot was there but it was for Dianne, and he was out of qualifying. A really interesting and tight finish.
Earlier, Joan Hayward had played well but was not able to qualify but she could be the devil and stop Grahame Law from winning his last game which, if he won, would get him qualified. The scoreboard in this game showed how close the two were playing, but here was another game perched at 20-20. A long end, the jack moved and one point was won but again, the chance of playing in Post-section had gone. Next year perhaps, Grahame, Another interesting and tight game.
The third tight match was a further game to catch the eye of members. Joe Wnek had to play Rob Cotter and both players needed the win to qualify. This turned out to be a really tight game throughout. End after end, tight play was taking pace on the cotula green and as the target score was approached, the scoreboard would record a single point for a player. (16-17, 17-17, 17-18, 17-19, 18-19, 19-19, 20-19, 20-20)
So to the final end. Tight again, bowls so close, a shot held by one and then movement and a point to the other. Joe held the shot but his last bowl touched a bowl – a slow movement and it was just bad luck for him, Rob had the winning of the end. What a marvelous game had been played. Both had played so well.
Click the photo to enlarge it.
Top – Murray and Dianne
Bottom – Grahame, Joan, Joe, Rob