BOWL UP BOWL UP
22 August 2011 By POPT Steven Adams
88 bowlers from HMAS Stirling (Captain Brett Wolski) descended on the Safety Bay Bowling Club on the 10th of August to contest the inaugural HMAS Stirling Lawn Bowls Open.
22 teams contested the event, which included two teams from Leeuwin Barracks, Fremantle and also a team from RAAF Pearce, Bullsbrook.
The Royal Australian Navy Lawn Bowls Association utilised this day to promote the sport with in the Navy and increase its membership base within WA.
The morning consisted of three pool games, with the afternoon concentrating on a finals series.
The Grand Final for the trophy went down to a ‘last end thriller’ when an informed(?) team from the ANZACSPO recruited Australian Services Bowls Association life member, Dave Adams to fill the role of ‘skipper’ for the side.
As the games were only 5 ends it appeared the game was slipping away when the RAAF team extended their lead to 4-0 after two ends.
On the third end Adams drew his second bowl in to take the score to 4-1.
Going into the fourth end a multiple count was needed and all the team worked together to come up with a 3 to level the score.
With a very tight head there was a number of bowls very close to the jack with the RAAF side narrowly holding shot.
Adams attempted a weighted shot on his first bowl that missed the target whilst the opposing skipper from the RAAF, SGT Dave Taylor (a seasoned player of the game) placed a bowl at the back ready for the next attempt by Adams.
With the sighter already carried out, Adams stepped up to the mat and corrected in fine fashion, taking out the opposition’s bowl clean, to leave them one up.
Taylor, who had taken his team through the day undefeated, just fell short with the last bowl and handed CPO Robert Thwaites, CPO Paul Lamont, Ron Abrahams (APS) and WOCIS (rtd) Dave Adams, the Stirling Open Trophy.
The plate final was won by a very flamboyant team know as the ‘Jumping Amazing Super Optimistic Noodle Squad’ who were skipped by Craig Latta, whose team comprised ABCIS Meagan Donnellan, LSBM Damian Donnellan and LSCIS Steve Payne.
The inaugural Lawn Bowls Open was a great success for all who attended and will be sure to be repeated for years to come.
