The Mixed Pairs Championship continued with three of the four semi finalists decided. In the closest of the matches Fran O’Connell and Marcel Kors had a real battle with Chris Roxby and Stan Peck. Roxby and Peck had a great start when they picked up 5 shots on the second end. They consolidated on this position with another four shots on the 9th end to move to a 15 – 8 lead. However, O’Connell and Kors plugged away and cut the lead to just 2 shots at 15 – 13 before they dropped another 5 shots to again slip behind 21 – 13. From this point O’Connell and Kors fought back again and with one end to play the scores were locked at 21 all. They maintained the momentum to win 22 – 21!
Peter Davies and Gail Page played Rita and Noel Downie in a game of three parts. In the first part Davies and Page set up a good lead of 8 – 2 before the Downies fought back to grab the lead for the first time in the game at 10 – 9 after 12 ends. The game then moved into a third part where Davies and Page dominated winning 7 of the next 8 ends to take the match 22 – 11.
In the third game Sharron Perry and Joel Hilliard played Margaret and Ray Downey in a low scoring affair. Perry and Hilliard slowly build a lead based on some outstanding bowls from Hilliard who handled the tricky conditions very well. On several occasions he was able to play crucial shots that proved the difference in the game. After 14 ends they had a 15 – 5 lead and, despite a determined effort from the Downeys to reduce the margin, they were able to run out winners 17 – 12.
One semi-final will be between O’Connell and Kors and Davies and Page. The second will be between Perry and Hilliard and a deferred game between Bruce and Denise Lidbury and Cheryl McRae and Lawrie Riley. Riley was unable to play his semi as he was in Bodalla playing in the District Final of the District Minor Single Championship. In very difficult windy conditions, on a super quick green, he played Glen Wales from St Georges Basin. Riley continued his success in this form of the game, running out the winner in a very close affair by 31 – 27. Well done Lawrie!!
Lawrie Riley 2019 2019 Minor Singles Champion
