Last Saturday Tuross Head Bowling Club had the Final of their Open Fours Club Championship. The weather was not looking too promising early on; however, it had cleared by the afternoon enabling the final to go ahead. It was good to see many spectators around the Green watching the match despite the cool conditions.
Competing was Team Williams against Team Fletcher. Team Williams, the lead was Neil Alexander, second was Marcel Kors (substituting for Bruce Kennedy), third Carol Williams and skipped by Doug Williams. Team Fletcher lead was Phil Welsh, second Chris Bright, third Ben Hewison and skip Col Fletcher.
The first six ends were very close with Team Fletcher holding a two shot lead at the end of the sixth. Team Williams was playing well but not having any luck. Neil Alexander was playing the perfect lead bowler’s game for Team Williams, consistently on the Jack whilst Phil Welsh for Team Fletcher was also leading well, matching Neil’s shots.
By the twelfth end Team Fletcher had moved to a lead of 11-5. As luck would have it, Team Williams would be holding shots and Ben Hewison from Team Fletcher would step calmly onto the mat to consistently deliver a perfectly placed bowl to give Team Fletcher the advantage.
At the end of the sixteenth, Team Fletcher held a 13-7 lead. Team Williams struggled and could only get the odd single shot, with no multiple shots scored up to this stage. On the seventeenth, Team Fletcher picked up another four shots to extend their lead to 17-7.
On the eighteenth end Team Williams picked up their first multiple with three shots, and then on the nineteenth another two to reduce the deficit to just 5 shots with two ends to go.
The twentieth end was a real nailbiter, with Team Fletcher holding a couple of shots, whilst Team Williams had some well-placed bowls behind the Jack. Doug, from Team Williams, with his final shot needed him to pick up the Jack and move it back slightly. Unfortunately, his bowl did pick up the Jack but moved it a little too far resulting in Team Fletcher taking the end. The final end also went to Team Fletcher who were the overall winners with a score of 19 shots to 12.
Congratulations to Team Fletcher on being the 2025/26 Open Four Club Champions and commiserations to Team Williams, the luck of the game was not with you on this occasion.
Special mention to Neil Alexander, named Man of the Match by the spectators for his perfect lead bowler’s game of being consistently on the Jack.
Thank you to Lorrie Bird for umpiring, Neil Mather Controlling Body and the many spectators supporting the two teams.