Sport
5 September, 2024
North West fours to play the best in Queensland after thrilling win
The Zone 8 champions were crowned at the Leichhardt Services Bowls Club.
Four North West bowlers are off to the state playoffs next month after they claimed honours in the Zone 8 Championships on home soil on Friday.
It was otherwise a tough three days of bowls for the locals as the visiting Cairns and Townsville bowlers took honours at the Leichhardt Services Bowls Club.
However, North West District vice president Graham Von Hoff, who was part of the winning fours side, said it was still a positive few days.
“What a weekend of bowls,” he said.
“When you’re at the zone level the competition is very good and we had some great bowlers in Mount Isa.
“It’s a long way to come and it was bloody hot but I think everyone enjoyed themselves.”
Von Hoff also made special mention to greenkeeper Ian Doolan, who made sure the surface was in pristine condition.
The Zone 8 playoffs consisted of several formats, including an eight-a-side mixed event (four men, four women), mixed pairs, men’s singles, men’s pairs, men’s fours and men’s pennants (three teams of four bowlers).
To get to the zone level, teams must first win their club championships before beating the other winners in their district.
The action started on Thursday as Edge Hill Bowls Club defeated the North West 66-52 in the mixed eight-a-side contest.
The mixed pairs were next between Cairns duo Emma Rowbotham and Nick Twinning advancing to the state deciders after triumphing over Townsville and the North West pairing of Bev Peters and Von Hoff.
The men’s pairs final between Townsville bowlers Ross Austin and David Moore, and Cloncurry’s Damien McGee and Nathan Barrett was a one-way affair with the coastal duo winning 29-10.
The only local success came in the men’s fours as the North West’s Von Hoff, Barrett, McGee and Mark Curren joined to take on Jubliee Bowls Club four of Ben Cribbin, Justin Cribbin, Jacob Chives and Nathaniel Cuzner.
The game lived up to all expectations with all bowlers playing some great draw bowls and the two skippers converting well. Going into the last end and requiring two shots to draw or three shots to win, the Jubilee skipper played a great last bowl to be holding two shots, leaving McGee with it all to do to secure victory.
The Cloncurry product delivered his bowl perfectly, drawing the shot inches from the jack, securing the North West a spot in the state playoffs in October.
State player Justin Cribbin from Jubliee was crowned the zone’s singles champion.
On Saturday, the men’s pennant teams did battle with Jubilee taking overall honours.
The Townsville side hammered Edge Hill 65-10, while in the game between Edge Hill and Mount Isa, the Cairns team won 78-42.
ZONE 8 CHAMPIONS
Singles: Justin Cribbin (Jubilee).
Pairs: Ross Austin and David Moore (Cutheringa).
Fours: Damien McGee, Graham Von Hoff, Mark Currin and Nathan Barrett (North West Queensland).
Mixed Pairs: Nick Twinning and Emma Rowbotham (Cairns).
Eight-a-Side: Edge Hill.
Men’s Pennants: Jubilee.