By Roland Smith
The four best Lilydale Falcons bowlers turned up on a balmy night to fight it out to see who would be crowned the top player in their respective Men’s and Ladies’ Singles competition. No matter how much time it might take or how many ends needed to be played the bowler to reach the target of 25 first would be crowned the Club Singles Champion for 2024/5.
Daniel Woodrow and Luke Lamont (affectionately known as ‘Boof’) were the Men’s finalists, while Ellie Johnston and Olivia Slade were the Women’s.
Daniel had won over five Singles championship trophies at other clubs, but not at the Lilydale Bowls Club, while Boof had won the Lilydale’s Men’s Singles cup just last year so he was trying to go ‘back to back’.
Olivia was victorious in the Ladies’ singles at Heathmont before going on to win the ‘Champion of Champions’ competition in the Eastern Ranges back in 2022-23, while Ellie had won the Lilydale Ladies’ Singles in 2021. An incredible feat.
The Men’s game began at 5.35 pm. With a watchful and maybe slightly nervous start Boof and Daniel were 2 shots a piece after 4 ends. Then Daniel took off to a 10-shot lead after twelve ends. The score was 13 – 3 his way. Not to be outdone Boof clawed his way back by winning the next seven ends to level the score at 13 – 13. Although many felt that Daniel could regain the momentum, it never happened. Come 8pm, Boof had won 26 – 16 after thirty ends. Later, in his acceptance speech, Boof acknowledged that he had been given a ‘scare’ by Daniel’s excellent bowling when he raced away to a 10-shot lead.
In the Women’s rink, Olivia started at a blistering pace by being 7 shots to zip after just two ends. This momentum for Olivia continued up to when the score was 16 – 3. At this point Ellie started to turn the game around little by little, end by end. After 19 ends the score card had gone from 16 – 3 to 17 – 12. When the score was 24 – 20 Olivia was holding 3 shots even though she needed just one to win the game, Ellie came in with an amazing last bowl to take shot. The final score was Olivia 25 to Ellie 21. Well done ladies.
The Lilydale Bowls Club invites everyone to come to 5 Hardy Street, Lilydale to try bowls and make new friends.
