It’s been busy times for the City bowlers

THOSE bowlers who have remained in contention for the clubs major singles championships have been go, go go to complete their remaining round games, quarter finals and semi finals.
Bill Anderson account for past champion Tim Kearney 31-12 after it stood at 8-all after nine ends but from this point Anderson dominated.

Bob Ritchie prevailed over Whyte Ng 31-29 after a titanic struggle where the scores were level than five times before Ritchie scored three on the 34th end.

In a spectacular game where high quality bowls were the order of the day Cec McAndrew prevailed over last year’s champion Les Barnes 31-2.

A further round game saw Mike Johnson account for Geoff Brooks 31-15 after the scores were level 14-all after 16 ends.

From here Johnson showed why he is a highly regarded bowler within the district, showing all the shots and playing them with precision.

Another game saw Brian Conran have a good win over Frank Mierczak 31-17.

Conran then backed up again in the afternoon to record another great victory over Peter Kearney 31-12, showing why he has become the nominal favourite for the championship with great all round displays.

Another great game saw Ken Poppett and Peter Rutherford do battle over 35 ends before Poppett prevailed 31-22.

Poppett also had to play again in the afternoon and took on Bill Anderson.

This was the game of the round, lasting 40 ends before Poppett, using his vast experience of many years, finally walking off the green an exhausted 31-24 victor.

The score does not show a true indication of the game, as both players showed outstanding precision bowls.

The last game of the round saw Athol Roach and Allan Kenniff meet in a very high quality game in which both players showed good skills.

This game was a tight tussle throughout before Roach finally gained a break to emerge victorious 31-24.

Kenniff is a young bowler going places and with the experienced gained in these championships will prove a great adversary for whichever bowler he meets in future championships.

The quarter finals saw Mike Johnson take on the giant killing Cec McAndrew.

In this game Johnson set up an early lead, and with great all round bowling did not let McAndrew settle before running out an easy 32-17 victor.

Another quarter final saw last year’s runner up and past champion and twice district singles champion Paul Willcox take on the improving Athol Roach.

This was a titanic battle for the first 15 ends where the scores stood at 12-all before the more consistent Roach finally gained a winning break to run out a very relieved 31-20 victor.

The quarter final that was to be played between Brian Conran and Ken Poppett saw Conran advance when Poppett had to forfeit due to family commitments because of those unfortunate circumstances.

Conran proceeded to the semi finals where he met the winner of the match between Bob Ritchie and Kerry Clarke.

This match saw Clarke gain the early ascendancy to setting up a match winning lead 22-12 by the 20th end.

Try as he might and fighting sickness Ritchie could not stem the tide, with Clarke running out victorious 31-22.

The semi final between Conran and Clarke saw both bowlers play outstanding bowls but it was Conran playing great draw bowls who set up an early lead.

Conran continued to dominate play closing out the match 31-16 on the 29th end to proceed into the final.

Conran is a new acquisition to the club and what a great asset for Lithgow City.