Denmark Orange provide first division bowling league upset to begin new year in ladies pennants

Passionate Albany bowler TIM SCOTT is writing a fortnightly column for The Extra, keeping our readers up to date with the local bowls scene.

Ladies pennants have woken the local bowls season from its festive slumber to restart the Lower Great Southern Bowling League season, with Denmark Orange providing an upset to begin the first division’s new year with an unexpected home win against Emu Point 3 (46) to 1 (40).

This loss could prove costly for Emu Point in their ladder-leading battle with Mt Barker Golf, who had a narrow win over Albany Green 3 (39) to 1 (37).

Albany Gold had a strong start to the new year, defeating Middleton Beach Green at home 3 (47) to 1 (36).

Both games in second division were decided by one shot, with Mt Barker gaining the win over local rivals Mt Barker Golf 3.5 (41) to 0.5 (40) in the first game and Middleton Beach Red won 3 (38) to 1 (37) against Emu Point Purple.

Albany White continues to struggle with numbers as they had to again forfeit against Emu Point Blue.

The LGSBL ladies have also completed the annual League Fours, with seven clubs represented, as host club Emu Point proved too strong to take out the title.

The strong combination was skippered by Yvonne Shalders, along with June Mott, Karen Wright and Jean Vondeling.

Albany Men’s Fours Championship final was taken out by Don King, Craig Hitchcock, Neil Lee and Dave Williams in a tense final which was highlighted by the killing of several ends by rival skipper Jon Davidson whilst several shots down.

The LGSBL men’s round robin side have produced a dominant display to win the annual carnival in windy and extremely hot conditions in Kulin.

Seven players from this side — Matt Mitchell, Richard Plant, Craig Hitchcock, John Sharp, Paul Garbellini, Jon Davidson and Clive Bahr — have been selected to represent the Southern Zone at the Interzone carnival in Busselton.

Men’s third division restart this week, followed by first and second division the week after, as the run into the finals will prove as always to be very interesting and worth following.

The 8 Badge with Emu Points Yvonne Shalders

1. Where were you born? Pingelly, WA.

2. Sports/interests growing up? Athletics, badminton, tennis and hockey.

3. How/who got you into bowls? Whilst living in Newdegate my husband Colin was going one way to bowls and I was going the other way to tennis. So I decided to join the bowls club.

4. Clubs played for? Newdegate, Emu Point.

5. Favourite format? League events.

6. Most cherished moment on greens? First Country Week Singles title in 1986.

7. Best bowler ever seen/played against? Lee Poletti.

8. Why would you recommend bowls as a sport to play? It’s a great social sport giving you the chance to travel and make life-long friends.