30 October 2022

The State Women’s Triples in North Shore District was played in fabulous weather over the weekend. After Rounds 1 & 2 yesterday, the semi-finalists took to the greens this morning. One was an “all Belrose” affair, with Judy Clubb, Anne Vaccarella & Lynne Newland taking on Suzi Fischer, Julie Baker & Billie Maas. After 4 ends Billie’s team was up 10-2 and continued to dominate on the green from that point on, taking out the match 36-11. The other semi between Elaine Seidler, Kate Wingrove & Jenny Hepburn (Neutral Bay) and Susie Meares, Ngoc Hau & Louise Amos (Lindfield Rollers) was close-fought all the way. Neutral Bay got the better start, leading 11-4 after 11 ends. However, a string of multiples to Lindfield Rollers saw the Rollers up 14-11 after 15. It continued as an arm-wrestle from that point. In the final end, Lindfield was up 22-20 and holding match, until Neutral Bay skip Jenny killed the end. When the end was replayed, Neutral Bay’s Lead and Second played match-winning bowls. The Lindfield Rollers skip didn’t convert with her first but, when she played her final bowl, she navigated the Bay’s blocker to arrive on the shot bowl and nick the jack across to her own team’s bowl to claim the match.

When the Final got underway in the afternoon, the breeze had strengthened and the green got even faster, which suited the Belrose team better than Lindfield. The Rollers got a single on the first end, but after 6 ends it was 9-1 to Belrose. Three scoring ends for Lindfield Rollers put them back in contention, at 5-9; however, Belrose took the next 5 ends to increase their lead to 17-5 after 14 ends, then 26-7 after 20. Final score: 29-10.