Championship games

THREE club championship finals were completed at Cranbourne Bowling Club over the past two weekends.
Peter Colthup and Rob Reid combined to take out the men’s club pairs; Lyn Whalley and Linda McLean won the ladies’ club pairs; and Danny Wise and Pauline Summerhayes were too good in the mixed club pairs.
Elgar, Thomas, Hell and Byrnes are set to meet J. Imeson, Pentreath, Boltong and G. Imeson in the men’s club fours final either this week or next week.
Elgar, Thomas, Hell and Byrnes defeated Colthup, Barrenger, Byrne, Reid 20-2 in one semi-final, while J. Imeson, Pentreath, Boltong and G. Imeson beat Worstling, Dudink, McLean and Butera 20-11 in the other.
Colthup and Reid established a lead from the outset over Peter Elgar and Terry Byrnes in the men’s club pairs decider.
Both teams started well, but Colthup and Reid both played excellent shots and were never headed, although Elgar and Byrnes finished strongly to narrow the margin.
Spectators were treated to entertaining shots from all players in a high-quality match.
Scores: Colthup/Reid d Elgar/Byrnes 17-14.
The ladies’ pairs championship was played under ideal conditions between Whalley and McLean and Sandra Reed and Eileen St Ruth.
The teams were evenly matched and neither team could establish a match-winning lead.
Reed and St Ruth edged four shots ahead after 16 of the 18 ends were played with an excellent array of shots.
A complete change came over the match on the 17th end, with Whalley and McLean scoring a seven and on the final end scoring one to win the final by four shots.
It was the first club championship win for McLean, while it was back-to-back success for Whalley.
Scores: Whalley/McLean d Reed/St Ruth 17-13.
The mixed club pairs final pitted Danny Wise and Pauline Summerhayes against Kath and Gerry Dudink.
The players took a little time to settle and find the pace of the green, but the Wise/Summerhayes combination took the initiative and went to an early lead.
The Dudinks fought back, but couldn’t bridge the margin to get into a winning position and their opponents drew away for a nine-shot victory.
Scores: Wise/Summerhayes d K. and G. Dudink 19-10.
Meanwhile, Cranbourne men’s club champion Peter Elgar will play against other club champions in Group 14 for the Group Champion of Champions title at Mulgrave Country Club this weekend.
Winners go through to the State Champion of Champions competition.