South Struggles in opening SWC Round
A report for THE MERCURY by Peter Kirby
Bowls Tasmania’s inter-regional competitions commenced on Sunday 26 November with the first rounds of Bowling Arm Regional Round Robin held at the Devonport Country Club, and the Junior Statewide Challenge being played at the Kings Meadows Indoor Bowls Centre in Launceston.
The bowling arm is a mechanical device that enables people with back, knee and hip problems to deliver bowls from an upright stance. Otherwise, due to physical pain which prevents them from getting down into a lunge position to deliver bowls, they would be forced to retire from their chosen sport.
The bowl is held in a claw-like system at the bottom of the device and the bowler pushes a button or lever that releases the bowl when the bowler is ready to deliver the bowl. Bowlers who use a bowling arm compete on a level footing with able bodied bowlers in local pennant bowls competitions.
Bowls South fielded two teams in the Bowling Arm five-a-side competition, playing singles and fours in the morning, and triples and pairs in the afternoon. The South’s singles players, Glenorchy City’s Noel Buckingham and Bill Mottershead (Royal Hobart) were the only bowlers to enjoy success.
In a tight game against the North’s Sally Archer, Buckingham was 7 shots down after 10 ends, but gradually pegged back the deficit to overtake Archer after 13 ends, and continued on to win the match 21-15.
In his match against North West’s Paul Bugg, Mothershead was in front from the beginning, and although Bugg ensured a close contest, Mothershead took out the match with a comfortable 3 shot margin, 21-18.
Unfortunately, the South teams was not successful in either the fours, triples or pairs, but with five debutants displaying good skills and promise, there is confidence of more competitive performances in future rounds.
With five juniors representing the South for the first time, results in the Junior Statewide Challenge were secondary to these young bowlers enjoying the company of other junior bowlers, with improvement expected to flow from their initial experience of competitive bowls.
Due to the low number of juniors available for selection in the Southern side, and with several unavailable for the first round, the Southern Juniors were augmented by juniors from other regions, and Bowls South is thankful for the support from the North West and North for the 4 juniors that they provided to ensure the South fielded a full side.
Statewide Challenge continues on Sunday with Open Women’s and Men’s events being played in Launceston on Sunday, with Senior Women’s and Men’s competition on Tuesday 12 December, also in Launceston, completing the first round.