Rick Malley
SOUTH PACIFIC FOURS
Windang are chasing a second South Pacific fours crown in four years after brushing aside visitors Gymea in the semi-finals at Fairy Meadow Bowling Club.
Windang skip Rick Malley and partners David Tyrrell (lead), Martin O'Brien (second) and third Geoff Walker led early on in a 25-11 victory.
Windang take on Shane Garvey's composite side in tomorrow's final after Garvey beat Jim Davies 26-17 in the other semi-final.
Davies and partners took it up to their more fancied opponent and only a five and a three late in the match sealed victory for Garvey.
Meanwhile, Windang aren't one of Illawarra's big money clubs but keep producing good players who do well at zone championships and the South Pacific.
"We're a strong social bowls club who have a knack of finding some good quality players who do well in big events," Walker, the club's bowls co-ordinator said.
"While none of our team play for a No 1 pennant club we've played well this week as a team - getting through our section, then two good post-section wins and now a win in a South Pacific semi."
With around 200 bowling members, Walker said a South Pacific title in any form would be great for his club.
"Everyone would be feeling 10-feet tall if we won the fours. Shane Garvey is the favourite and he has a very strong team but our guys have stepped up."
Walker and clubmate Mark Larsen are into this morning's pairs quarter-finals, while Rick Malley - the back-to-back Zone 16 senior singles champion - and his pairs partner David Tyrrell reached the third round.
There will be emotion for the Windang club if they can win the fours crown, with club legend George Stewart, who passed away last October, skipping the club to their last triumph in 2010.
Beaten Gymea skip Allan Smith also made the post-sectional round in pairs with his fours teammate Bart Thornthwaite and was proud his fours team had come within one win of making the final.
"We had a great run and enjoyed every minute of it," Smith said.
"We let our concentration skip for about three ends, dropped a six and that was that. But our team knocked out Steve Glasson in our section and to get this far was a great effort."