Shoalhaven Ex-Servicemen brothers Matthew and Paul Goddard played brilliant pressure bowls to capture the prized NSW State Rookies Pairs title at Raymond Terrace Bowling Club.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Zone 7 champions beat Club Maitland City's Mick Ryan and Wayne Van Masstricht (Zone 6) 11-10 in a thrilling final to become the first State Rookies Pairs winners from Shoalhaven Exies and first brothers to claim the crown.
Van Masstricht went one better in the Singles taking the title with victory over Merewether's Joshua Reynolds 17-9 in the final.
Zone 16 Singles representative Garry Lynam won all three of his sectional games before bowing out to Van Masstricht 17-7 in the semi-finals.
Meanwhile in the Pairs, Matthew and Paul Goddard won their first two sectional games but only clinched Section 4 and a semi-finals spot after a tense 11-11 draw in round three against Park Beach's Nigel McKee and Bruce Nicholson.
The draw proved just enough to edge out Illawarra representatives Richard Cooper (Warilla) and Greg Wray (Collies-Orb) who finished on two wins.
The Goddard brothers then had another tight victory, 12-9 in their semi-final against Bowral's Alistair McGhee and Carl Spiker before winning a captivating decider on an extra end after the Shoalhaven Exies duo levelled 10-10 on the last end of regulation play.
The Goddards thought they'd won it with Paul's final bowl but all players showed great sportsmanship to acknowledge the bowl had gone in the ditch - leaving the final tied 10-10.
Paul Goddard then played a superb final bowl on the extra end to clinch an emotional victory, 11-10.
For Zone 16 representatives Cooper and Wray it was a case of what might have been.
Cooper was a late replacement for Wray's Collies-Orb clubmate Brian Gardiner who was overseas and the new combination were unlucky to strike the eventual champions first up in their section; losing 14-10.
Cooper and Wray then beat McKee and Nicholson 13-9 before outclassing Junee's Neil Sainsbury and Ethan Sainsbury 28-3.
But the Zone 16 combination needed the Goddards to lose a match and though they were pushed to the limit in an 11-11 draw with Park Beach, the result was enough to clinch the section with 2.5 wins.
Meanwhile, Garry Lynam can be proud of his efforts in the Rookies Singles after having his run ended by the champion in the semis.
Lynam was in good form in his section; beating Greg Donlan 17-15 (Avalon), Wade Dickens 17-15 (Davistown RSL) and Luke McCarthy (Glen Innes) 17-10.
Lynam won the Zone 16 Rookies Singles last month after only taking up bowls 18 months ago after being given his first set of bowls as a 70th birthday present.
While you're with us the Illawarra Mercury is offering sport readers 20% off an annual digital subscription. Sign up to stay up to date with all the local sports you love for only $3.00 a week. Terms and conditions apply.
