First-time finals winners

By Monbulk Bowling Club vice-president Jenny Holmes
MONBULK Bowling Club was crowded with spectators last Tuesday (10 January) for the finals of the men’s and ladies’ club championships.
The members and families who came to watch the two matches struggled to keep the finals tension under control, but managed to remain dutifully quiet when competitors stepped up to bowl.
In club championship play, bowlers use four bowls each and the first bowler to 25 points is adjudged the winner, no matter how many ends are played.
The competition threw up some surprising results in the previous knockout rounds, with some big names left by the wayside. In what looks like a year for change, both the ladies’ and men’s champions were first-time winners.
In the ladies’ event, Dot Donders faced off against good friend, Elaine Butler. In a close match throughout, both bowlers reached the twenties – causing a dramatic sudden-death situation in the closing ends.
Donders and Butler delivered virtually identical bowls in consecutive ends and the umpire was called upon to do the meticulous measurements to separate them.
As the match-up came down to the wire, Donders just edged Butler in a thrilling contest to take the title.
On the men’s rink, Jim Bras faced a tough battle against Andrew Bell. Both men play in Monbulk’s top Division 1 pennant teams and that high standard of play shone through during the final match. A pillowcase could have been thrown over the tight cluster of bowls around the jack on many ends.
After a close first half of the match, both Bras and Bell looked potential winners before Bras won some crucial points and hung on to a match-winning lead.
Both the ladies’ and men’s champions will now go on to play against champions from other bowling clubs.