By Roland Smith
The very first annual Lilydale High School Lawn Bowls Tournament took place at Lilydale Lawn Bowls Club as 118 students made the trek to the greens. They assembled into 40 teams made up from pupils ranging from Years 7 through to 11.
The play was spread across all three greens. The competition ran for the duration of the whole school day. What a magnificent tournament it was as each team with a resolve to win, showed great skills in an atmosphere of good sportsmanship and the occasional cheeky gamesmanship.
Several students who are part of the amazing Lilydale High School program, Excellence In Sport, which focuses on Australian Rules Football, Basketball and Netball were amongst the competitors. Each team competed in a round robin format that included 4 games of 6 ends each.
After over three hours of bowling every one stopped for a delicious BBQ lunch provided by the Lilydale Bowls Club. Sue, Trish and Andrew did a marvellous job in feeding the large cohort of teenage tummies, teachers and volunteers. The fourth round was played over the hour after lunch. Following that, the players who had not made it through became spectators of the semi finals and subsequent Grand Final.
Teams 17 and 1 made it to the Final. There was an air of expectancy and excitement as the students flanked the players on the bank and on the green itself to watch the last game.
Although each team won an equal number of ends in the Final, it was the team that hadn’t performed quite as well in the round robin that got up to win the Final. Well done to Xav, Ewan and Jack.
The runners up received $150 of gift vouchers and the winners $300.
A shout out to Greg from the Bowls Club and Alister from Lilydale High who made the day the success it was.
Many have suggested that it would be wonderful to have an inter school tournament where other secondary colleges in the area fight it out for a trophy.
Everyone is welcome to come down to the Lilydale Bowls Club to enjoy good company and have a go at lawn bowls.
