Top Bomaderry bowler Scott Bateup enjoyed a triumphant return to his home club with victory in the prized Major Singles event.
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Bateup re-joined Bomaderry following a successful stint at Wiseman Park and other clubs which included winning the Zone 16 Singles in 2018. The 2021 Bomaderry Major Singles featured a quality field of 34 bowlers with Bateup overcoming the three-time defending champion Luke West 31-22 in a thrilling final.
Bateup backed up his Singles victory by partnering West to claim the Major Pairs, with finalists Bob Webster and Tony Collin 22-13 sealing their place in the decider after titanic extra-end victories in the quarter-finals and semi-finals.
Bomaderry BC has been fortunate to be able to continue its bowls program through most of 2021, though the club had to close as part of the state-wide COVID lockdown on August 14.
In 2021 the club had its most successful pennants season since joining Zone 16, with their Grade 2 side reaching the Zone grand final and going close to clinching the flag.
The Bomo team finished runners-up to Warilla in Section 1 of Grade 2 and struck their best form in the playoffs; beginning with 66-43 victory over Thirroul in the minor semi-final featuring the two section runners-ups.
Buoyed by the confidence of a 20-plus shot win, Bomaderry upset the top team in their section Warilla 63-53 on their home green in the preliminary final.
Bomaderry chartered a coach for its players and supporters for the grand final clash against Windang which was again hosted by Warilla Bowls.
Another huge upset appeared on the cards with Bomaderry quickly establishing a 15-shot lead before Windang counter-attacked to close out a tense 67-59 victory.
While Bomaderry didn't win the Zone flag, they showed they have three strong rinks to compete with Zone 16's best.
The club's Grade 2 squad featured Ken Smart, Paul Smith, Chris Rae, Scott Bateup, Geoff Swann, Judy Croft, Eric Lane, Daniel Hiscox, Bob Webster, Tony Collin, Darren Draper, Justin Rumble and Luke West, with Rosa Burns doing a super job all season as team manager.
While the run to the pennant grand final is a highlight in 2021, Bomaderry also had some top championship results including new pairing Julie Buchanan and Bob Webster clinching the Mixed Pairs with Greg Tatam and Bev Thompson runners-up.
Among the most competitive championship events was the Fours with John Keeffe, Col Whetters, Steve Helson and Harry Griffiths beating Joe Bongiorno, Patrick Sager, Ken Smart and Greg Salway on an extra-end in the final.
Harry Griffiths made it two championships for the year in claiming the Veteran Singles, with defending champ Tony Collin runner-up.
Woonona look to the future
Woonona Women's Bowling Club are looking forward to a safe return to the green and have already completed its Club Pairs championship for this season.
Linda Adams and Sharon Dumbleton clinched the one completed club title for 2021, the Club Pairs, which was finished just before the start of the extended lockdown.
Adams and Dumbleton defeated Dianne Tully and Gail Banks 24-13 in the final.
The new champions gained some ascendancy after an even start with the decider played on a cold, bleak afternoon in perhaps an omen for the many weeks to come without bowls.
Earlier, Tully and Banks overcome Marion Hunt and Vicki Bott in their semi-final, while Adams and Dumbleton defeated Karen King and Michelle Fellows to reach the final.
It has already been a great season for the Woonona ladies who stormed to victory in the Illawarra District Grade 2 pennants competition and now await a decision from Bowls NSW Ltd to whether the State Finals will be rescheduled to next year.
Last month the newly-formed Bowls NSW Ltd announced that the State Finals, which have already been rescheduled from the Queensland border in September to Foster BC in October, would not go ahead due to the NSW Government restrictions around COVID.
Games torch is burning for Teys
Among the many cancelled events likely to have impacted Illawarra Zone bowlers this year was the annual Australian Sides and Senior Sides championships.
Bowls Australia recently confirmed the two championships were among six Nationals events, plus the Trans-Tasman Series in November, which won't go ahead due to COVID.
Among the top Zone 16 bowlers to be impacted are NSW Open stars Corey Wedlock and Aaron Teys who are also in the men's Jackaroos team, while their Warilla clubmate Brian Suckley and Towradgi' Park's Robbie Warren helped NSW win the Seniors (Over 60s) Sides Championship in 2019.
The Open Jackaroos Men's and Women's teams will be especially desperate for good news on the COVID lockdown front with less than a year to the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Warilla's Teys and Wedlock will be part of the Jackaroos team for sure and while Australia will be the team to beat it will be a very competitive Games on the slower English greens.
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