By Peter Brennan
The Pennant season is underway at Yarra Junction Bowling Club, and the midweek season opened with a newly promoted Junction hosting Croydon. It seemed that all was going well. It was warm, though not too warm. Sunny, but not too sunny. The fly in the ointment was the wind. Definitely too windy, uncomfortably so. The type of wind that cannot make up its mind, switching direction mid-gust, playing havoc with bowls. But on their home deck Junction started well, and by half time held the lead, though not by enough to be comfortable. In the second half Croydon gradually reeled them in, point by remorseless point. With only one end to play the aggregate score was all square. With one bowl to come Junction held the lead. But the last bowl of the Croydon skipper scattered the head and sat on the jack, giving Croydon a one-point lead. Junction won two rinks out of three, but Croydon won overall by one point. It was a hard loss to swallow, but sometimes all one can do is applaud fine bowling.
The weekend team travelled to Mooroolbark, and if they were sure of one thing it was that they would be playing on grass. Mooroolbark is a large club with many teams, two grass greens and one synthetic. Junction often struggles on the slower grass greens. It was a pleasant surprise therefore to find that the higher division teams had been allocated the grass, and Junction would be playing on the synthetic. Needless to say the Mooroolbark players were not entirely happy to lose that advantage. The wind was a strong northerly, blowing directly across the green, but not swirling and therefore predictable. It suited Junction, and they took an early lead. Although at times Mooroolbark closed the gap they could not do so consistently, and Junction ran away with a strong win, winning three rinks out of four and almost doubling the Mooroolbark score. It was a very satisfactory day, and a valuable away win.
All bowlers from any club are reminded that it is not too late to enter the Melbourne Cup tournament, which promises to be an excellent day. The Community Cup is also still open for entrants from local businesses and organisations. All visitors are welcome to visit the club down by the river, and equipment and free coaching is available to anyone curious to try this engrossing sport.
