John Attwood's rink, that was soundly defeated the previous week against Shepparton Golf redeemed itself by having a 12-shot win 27-15 against Paul Kerrins. A margin of 10 shots was established after 10 ends and Kerrins’ rink then held its own, but could not make up the leeway.
Brendon Boyd against Charlie Pellegrino won by the same margin of 12 shots in a high scoring match 34-22. Boyd established a commanding lead and at one stage was up by 14 shots on the 12th end, but by the 19th end was being challenged and only held a five-shot lead 25-20. In the remaining six ends scoring nine shots to two Boyd had regained his dominance to be home by 12 shots.
For those witnessing the match between Tatura's Jason Carter and Hill Top's Jock Hicks, who had temporarily returned from his new home in Darwin, they were treated to a brilliant display of precision bowling. Jason and Jock were clearly the main influences on the game often changing the scoring head results into their team's favour. Fortunately for Tat, Carter was ably assisted by his second, 17-year-old Seth Tziros, who had a great game under the lights and was constantly close to the kitty. Carter was at his magnificent best and converted multiple deficits at the head on numerous times to either convert to lowly numbers or scoring in his favour. Tatura won 13 of the 25 ends to get home by eight shots 30-22.
Nick Boyd jumped Trevor Downie early and after seven ends was leading 13-4, and by the 12th had doubled the score line 16-8. This became the turning point in the game for Downie's group then started to command the scoring and eventually hit the lead 22-21 with only two ends to play. Downie scored a single on the penultimate end to be up two shots with the last end to play. By this stage all other games had been completed and was being keenly watched by spectators and bowlers alike. Boyd needed to get up to give Tatura a clean sweep for the game. In a tight head Tatura held an early one-shot which then became two and finally Boyd with his last bowl and the last end for the entire game got a rub to come into scoring and gained the necessary third shot for a come-from-behind win 24-23.
Tatura won all four rinks up by 33 shots 115-82 and gained a valuable 18 points to leave it sitting in the top four with four rounds to compete for this season.
Tatura's division six West team at home to Kyabram had a close encounter when with a few ends remaining the score was tied overall. Kyabram's Howard Tonkin had a strangle hold on Joyce Andrus’ rink and being Kyabram's only big leading rink looked like taking Kyabram through to victory when leading by 21 shots on the second last end. Andrus eventually lost to Tonkin at play's end by 22 shots 15-37.
Tat's Freda Clement had a most competitive battle with Marg Cox winning by a valuable seven shots 27-20, although early in the game they had led by up to 14 shots 20-6 on the 15th end. The overall victory where Tatura defeated Kyabram 82-73 and 14 points to 2 was through the late end dominance of Rod Kirby's rink of Dave Westin, Michael Stone and Faye Attwood who took a 27-16 and 11-shot lead on the 19th end to a smashing 40-16 win by the 25th end against Jan McFadyen.
Vale John Flanagan (Hill Top Bowls Club) Tatura — John will be remembered with fondness as one of the true characters of the bowls game, not only by Hill Top, but also by the wider Goulburn Valley community. A past Hill Top Bowls Club champion, a committee man and a great mate to many, a minute's silence in memory of John was held at Tatura Bowls Club when Hill Top's division two side met Tatura under lights on Friday night.
Tatura's midweek division two is banging on the door of the top four having got over fourth positioned Kyabram 14 points to 2, leaving Tatura trailing in fifth spot by three points. In three of the next four remaining games of the pennant season,Tatura will meet sides currently below it on the ladder and strong performances with no relapses could most certainly have it playing finals.
Playing at home to visiting Kyabram Freda Clement and Dos Grills had a cracker of a game with the scores level on three occasions. At 17 each on the 22nd end Clement's rink managed to score three singles to take out the match by this small margin 20-17. Coincidently on the adjoining rink and on the same 22nd end the scores were also 17 each between Tatura's Dot Best and Kyabram's Jill Barrett. Barrett scored two of the three ends outscoring Best three shots to two to take out the points for Kyabram winning by one shot 20-19. The overall Tatura 65-51 victory was set up with Joyce Andrus (S), Phil Boyd, Noeleen Boyd and Michael Stone winning comfortably by 12 shots 26-14 against Marg Cox.
— John Crilly
