Bowls News

Innisfail Bowls Club hosted the District Eight-ASide and Champion of Champion Pairs finals

STORY AND PHOTOS BY MARIA GIRGENTI

ON Saturday, July 29, South Johnstone Bowls Club hosted teams in the District Champion of Champion Pairs semifinals.

Steve Pitt and Neil Robson (Marlin Coast) knocked out Innisfail’s Alf Strano and Alf Siliato 26 - 10, whilst Rod Enman and Dwayne Brooks (Weipa) knocked out B Wright and Kevin Deegan (South Johnstone) 24 - 18.

Edge Hill’s Nick Twining and Colin Kelly (substitute for Lyle Braggins) defeated Gavin Johnson and Mal Gordon from Yungaburra 27 - 14.

Ivon Spletter and N Bates (Atherton) defeated S Carolin and Alby Radford (West Cairns) 25 - 16.

Twining and Kelly (Edge Hill) then defeated Spletter and Bates (Atherton) 26 -17, whilst Pitt and Robson (Marlin Coast) had a 24 - 9 victory over Enman and Brooks (Weipa).

On Sunday, July 30, Innisfail Bowls Club hosted the District Champion of Champion Pairs final between Edge Hill and Marlin Coast.

Edge Hill’s Nick Twining and Colin Kelly faced Pitt and Robson from Marlin Coast in the final.

Twining and Kelly (Edge Hill) claimed victory over Pitt and Robson (Marlin Coast) 20 - 10 in the final.

Edge Hill will now travel to Townsville to play in the Zone playoffs on August 25.

Innisfail Bowls Club also hosted the TFNQ District 8-A-Side competition, now in its second year.

Bowls Queensland commenced a new State-wide Interclub State 8-A-Side, starting at the Club, through to the District level, then onto Group playoffs and culminating in State Finals.

This State 8-A-Side mixed event encompassed club sides of four women and four men who contested women’s pairs, men’s pairs and mixed fours disciplines.

Each Club wishing to enter a side will have an intraclub playoff if needed; if a club only has one side nominated, they will progress.

Successful club sides then advance to District playoffs, with the winning club side advancing to group playoffs.

This year’s TFNQD 8-A-Side competition featured South Johnstone, Yungaburra, Atherton, Edge Hill and Weipa.

Kevin Foord, Louise Hoskins, David Leach and Cathy Hitchings, Kevin Deegan, and Michael Hooker from South Johnstone were up against Edge Hill in the final.

In 2022, South Johnstone claimed the District 8-A-Side title. Still, Edge Hill, who remained undefeated in the roundrobin tournament, claimed the trophy after defeating Weipa in the semi-final and South Johnstone in the final.

Edge Hill now progresses to group playoffs, and these eight group winners will then contest the State 8 A-Side Final on November 11 - 12 at Capalaba Sports Bowls Club.

Innisfail Men’s Bowls

LAST Thursday, the weather was kind for an afternoon of social bowls and the winning team was Peter Smith, Snow Clark, Sam Pagano and David Irwin.

Unfortunately, Innisfail’s Michael de Vries and Jamie Paterson were knocked out of the A-Grade and B-Grade Singles in the District Champion of Champions played at Marlin Coast on August 5.

On Sunday, Innisfail’s third division pennants teams were defeated by Edmonton in the TFNQDBA finals played at Marlin Coast.

Members, please do not forget the weekend of August 18 - 19 is Innisfail Bowls Club’s centenary celebrations.

Innisfail Ladies Bowls

INNISFAIL Ladies were incredibly happy to host the TFNQDLBA Champion of Champions bowlers from July 24 - 28.

Unfortunately, the weather was not kind, but players persisted with all games completed despite losing a day’s play on Wednesday.

A strong contingent of Innisfail Bowls Club members attended the funeral of former player Esther Manly last Tuesday in Cairns, a sad loss to the community.

Persistent wet weather forced the cancellation of the Tropical Far North Queensland District Ladies Bowls Association District Championship Pairs due to take place at Innisfail and South Johnstone Bowls Clubs last Tuesday and this event will now take place in October.

Last Wednesday, a small contingent of players enjoyed social bowls.

Ann Rule, Helen Paterson, Catrina Cook, Maisie Smith and Jan Edgerton convincingly defeated Dell Steve, Jan Dunn, Margaret Johnston, Eileen Hamann and Diana O’Brien 21 - 9.

Excitement is building amongst members in anticipation for the Innisfail Bowls Club Centenary celebrations this month.

Shane Muriata

WITH the finish line just on the horizon in the National Rugby League, it's that time again to have a punt and give my opinion on who will lift the big golden trophy at the end of September. Which team should start planning what costume to wear for Mad Monday?

Ok, so I am going to cut to the chase here. Roman Reigns should not have won that title match at Summerslam, and what the hell was Jimmy Uso doing taking his brother out, Jey?

Now I have offloaded that heavy burden. Let's talk footy.

First on my list are the two-time Premiers Penny Panthers, the League Ladders and the best team of the last three years. Although they are the front runners in 2023, they don't look like the dominant team that brushed aside every team to two Championship Rings. Being the king of the Blue Mountains (no pun intended), the chocolate soldiers look ok, but I can't see them at the end. Like my right knee, after much action and dominance with countless titles in hopscotch, footy, egg and spoon race and cartwheel greatness, they are done after a great run.

Now to the great Melbourne Storms, the most winningest team for the last 20 years. Have they got it in them for another shot at the flag?

The answer is no. Bellamy's men have the cattle to round up a good stock, but I just feel no butchers will take them.

You may ask, Shane, what the hell would you know about good meat? Well, see Gary at Tender Cut Butchers; he'll tell you when I shop for the best they offer. I'm more picky than Princess Kate Middleton when she chooses shoes to rep the royal family on a night out (true story).

It hurts me to say this (It hurt me with 'wahs' like when the Deathly Hallows Part 1 came out and broke me like no other sequel - being the long-suffering Harry

Potter fan I am), but if its time to win the title and take it back across the Tasman to boast to all the union players, well, 2023 might be the season.

Shaun Johnson is playing career-best footy, and the team is playing the right tune with head composer Andrew Webster waving that little band thing around to a good song.

Now the Cows, Queenslands saviour since Pineapple and the giant Golden Gumboot that has more green than the song The Green Green Grass of Home.

While collecting Ws for the last six weeks, I will say something that may rub a little salty with some Cowbells fans. After looking like a title-threatening team in that run of theirs, this team will sink faster than a XXXX Gold at the Mt Tyson Hotel on a Friday night in Andrew Leo's hand.

In all honesty, it will take more from them to even make it, and if they do, they will be among the first teams eliminated.

Last but not least on my list of 'See ya later alligator' are the Sydney Roosters and the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Man, what a disappointing season and players these two clubs have produced this year.

Born in 1908 when League first started in this country, these dinosaurs should have been extinct long ago with T Rex and Anthony Emmi footy celebrations. James Tedesco needs to retire. I mean, like right now. Sam Walker should walk away, JWH should stay home, and Trellmit should have remained on the sideline.

The only teams I will reserve some praise for are the Sharks and maybe Parra, but don't worry, my time of bagging you will come.

So, there you have it, it sounded harsh, and I meant it to be. If you were offended that your team didn't receive any praise from Uncle Shane, then cry me a river like all the Cows fans at the derby game last weekend.

The only thing worth mentioning is how good Shaun Johnson is playing. I think the dude will win the Dally M.