By Eric Markham
During this season’s Eastern Regional Championships in March two Monbulk Bowls Club members were successful.
Terry Wright playing in the novices event reached the final. After working his way through the early rounds he met fellow Monbulk bowler Darren Ward in the quarter final. In a close contest Terry prevailed 21-17.
Terry then won the semi-final by three shots and came up against Lars Swart from Mulgrave Country Club. The match was played at Mulgrave which gave Lars an advantage and he started the better of the two. Terry then found his rhythm and in a close contest just went down by three shots to be the runner-up in this regional final.
Geoff Petersen had a great run in the men’s singles and reached the final eight. Geoff defeated Cameron Laird from Lilydale 25-22, then Ross Kelton from Mooroolbark 25-18. He then played John Dixon from Croydon and in a cliffhanger won 25-24.
Geoff then came up against Lloyd Iaccarino from Vermont South. The game see-sawed for the first half. Then Lloyd picked up a multiple to take the lead. Geoff re-focussed and managed to win a few ends, taking the scores to 22 shots all, in a game where the winner is the first to 25.
Then it all came down to the last end. Lloyd put in a couple of close draw bowls. Geoff tried to knock them away but just missed. It was Lloyd’s match. It was a pressure match and the spectators had to acknowledge the high standard of play from both bowlers. Lloyd subsequently went on to become the Regional Champion.
Monbulk Bowling Club also conducted a special fundraiser on 27 January to help the Monbulk CFA after the horrific fire season. The funds came from bowlers who paid their fee of $10 which included a barbecue lunch, as well as the money from the wrong bias box which amounted to just over $200. The Monbulk Board then agreed to top up the funds to $3000.
