State Pairs Winners

The finals of the Ladies State Pairs were played on the well prepared Numurkah greens last Sunday.

In an entertaining final Nan Smith of Finley Bowls Club and Fiona Rourke of Nathalia Bowls Club, fought back against Lidija Patching and Maree Luci of Numurkah Golf & Bowls Club, with Nan saving numerous shots. The scores were tied playing the last end. In a suspense filled final end Lidija and Maree were victorious by one shot, the final score being 13-12.

In the semi-finals Nan and Fiona had a convincing 21-6 win over Cheryl Merrett and Ruth Burnett of Barooga Sports Bowls Club, while Lidija and Maree had to fight hard to win 13-11 against Kerry Baldacchino and Chris Dunne of Cobram Bowls Club.

Numurkah’s Don Staggard combined with Roger Carter of Tocumwal Golf to take out the Murray Bowls Playing Area state pairs title on Sunday.

Playing on the excellent Wunghnu greens, Don and Roger proved too good for another hybrid pair, Chris Philpot of Barooga Sports and Roger’s clubmate, Rod Brown.

The final produced some excellent bowls, as Roger had the better of Rod as lead, and Don pulled off some great saves and conversions in the 14-12 final scoreline. Despite the closeness of the result, it was made a little more respectable by the runners-up picking up three shots on the last end. In fact they only won four of the 15 ends played, including a six.

Earlier Chris and Rod eliminated Peter Revell of Wunghnu and Rick Anderson of Katandra West, while Don and Roger downed the fast-finishing sole one-club pair in the semis, Warren Snow and Greg Barr, also from Katandra West.

It was the first win for Don in this event, while Roger added the title to his Murray Bowls pairs (Gordon Grinter Shield) win in 1995/96 with Jim Milgate.