Compiled by Matt Flapper
AFTER 14 years and six runners-up medals, the Victorian Men’s state side captured the most prestigious team event on the national bowls calendar. Victoria competing in Canberra in the Australian Sides Championships and playing for the much coveted “Alley Shield” were dominant in their undefeated performance. Challenging against all other states and territories, the men’s team – with Ocean Grove’s Matt Flapper at the helm of one of the rinks – secured the silverware with a clinical performance in round seven against Tasmania. Flapper along with Altona’s Dane McKinnon, Shepparton Golf’s Brad Orr and fellow Melbourne Roys Australian Premier League team-mate Fitzroy’s Dylan Fisher also won the gold medal for the best performed rink at the event. The championship victory, which has been dominated by NSW and Queensland over the last 14 years, was a welcome return to the state affectionately dubbed as ‘the Mexicans’.
State championships
With three opportunities to bring a State Championship gold medal back to Ocean Grove the GBR champion triple side of Ken Thomas, Tony Joel and Matt Flapper just fell short of success dropping their semi-final game. Their opposition, skipped by Sebastopol’s Ian Warner were far too good on the day advancing to the state triples final. Similarly in the fours again the Grover’s bowed out in the semi-final stage dropping their match, which was completed at 9.15pm, against the eventual winners from Northern Gateway. Flapper had another opportunity as the Geelong Region Champion of Champions but it wasn’t to be as Peninsula Casey’s Paul Twyerould was a man on a mission as he pushed all opposition aside on his way to lifting the crown.
OG RSL – Edinburgh Shield
Thirteen Ocean Grove Bowlers joined forces to make up the Ocean Grove/Barwon Heads RSL bowls team that went to contest the 62nd staging of the RSL’s Edinburgh Shield.
Competing at the Tocumwal Bowling Club on the NSW border the event staged each year brings together over 80 RSL teams across the state which is played at various venues in sections.
I’m sure the Friday night festivities were held to a minimum and there was a curfew in place so all players were primed ready for round one. Over the next day and a half the RSL side played five games of 12 ends, with wins against Longbeach and Tocumwal. Unfortunately the undoing for the team came in the other three matches against Altona, Moe and Dromana.
Adele’s Aussie pride
“Australian Armaroos” Adele Ryan is currently in New Zealand representing her country in the first ever Australian Bowlers Arm team.
The “history in the making” tour brings together a team that was selected from the National Championships earlier this year.
The concept of the tour is to demonstrate and promote the use of the Bowling Arm which aids bowlers who have suffered medical problems that restrict them from bending.
