Fairlie put on a stunning day for bowls, ending in a Draw for the Women's South Canterbury Town vs Country.

In the Singles for Country, Barbara Tiffen out-shined Town's Sharon Leonard; Barbara winning  25-15. It was great bowls to watch with some amazing shots played.

Pairs 1: Town's Janice Williams and Julie Robins played Country's Shell Mcgrath and Mel Reid.  This game was a battle throughout, with Town taking the game out 17-15.

Pairs 2: Town's Lynne Hodges and Bridget Kitching played Country's Michelle Darby and Helen Lowe.  Town were in control throughout the game winning 23-10. 

Fours: The Town team of Deb Jackson, Eileen Rabbidge, Anne Wooffindin, and Carol Fowler played the Country team of Judy Keats, Melissa Thomson, Sally Robertson, and Linda Gallagher. 

For both teams it was their first time playing together and an awesome game was had, with some great shots being played. The game came down to the last end with Town needing four for a draw and five for the win.  Town only picked up three, with Country getting the win 18-17.

Well done to all players. 

Thanks goes to Fairlie Bowling Club for hosting, Mark for Marking and Gail for a lovely afternoon tea.

 - Carolynn Darby 

The annual Town vs Country fixture took place at the West End Bowling Club on Sunday. Due to wet weather earlier in the week the Development teams took to the astro green, while the Seniors played on the grass. Despite the conditions, the West End grass green ran at great speed, setting the stage for some extraordinary bowling.

In the Senior singles, Town’s Shayne Chisnall (West End) went head-to-head with Country’s Marshall Stoddart (Temuka). Stoddart showed early dominance, plastering the kitty on the second end to pick up the maximum four shots and build a 7–5 lead after seven ends. Chisnall responded with a masterclass over the next six ends, surging ahead 14–7. Stoddart narrowed the gap to 17–14, but Chisnall proved unstoppable in the closing stretch to race away with a 25–19 victory.

The pairs proved to be a clash of the titans. Adrian Robins and Aaron Taylor were sensational for Town early on, taking a 10–3 lead over the Temuka men Sam Morton and Dave Wood. Country fought back relentlessly, outscoring Town to take a 15–10 lead. Robins’ side picked up a crucial four on the penultimate end to sit just two down heading into the decider. Playing the final end, Robins had a chance to trail the kitty for the victory, but narrowly missed, handing Country a thriller of a win.

In the triples, Town’s Scott Fisher, Richie Kerr, and Nigel Mobberley faced off against Country’s Dave Vujcich, Darryl Fowler, and Mick Ross. Town blasted out of the gates behind great draw bowls from Mobberley and Kerr to lead 12–2. Holding three shots on the next end, Town looked set to extend their margin, but Vujcich played an absolute honey —trailing the kitty for four shots to close the gap to 12–6. Fisher remained cool as ever under pressure, guiding his team to a 22–15 win.

In the fours, Country’s Dave Carey, Greg Valentine, Merv Davey, and Roger Glendinning got off to a slow start against Town’s Dean Harper, Dave McNeill, Mick Goodger, and Danny Johnson, trailing 4–0 after two ends. Country then delivered a spell of magic bowls to storm ahead 18–7. Town fought back valiantly to 18–14, but Country claimed two shots on a crucial late end to secure a 23–14 victory.

In the Development singles, Town’s Dean Satherley and Country’s Dinger Bell were locked neck-and-neck at 10-10 before Satherley relied on his experience to pull away for a 25–16 win.

In the Development Pairs Rana Matenga and Bob Mason representing Town were dominating against the Country team of Jason Rhodes and Jacque Volschenk and got away to a flyer leading 15 to 4 after 9 ends. But Rhodes' team clawed their way back with great leading by Volschenk and closed the gap 20-15 with 5 ends to play. Mason once again lead with some honeys and Matenga kept cool and they took the game out 26 -21

The Development triples saw Town’s Paul Brohan, Dillon Barker, and first-year player Julian Donaldson take on Kieran Aker, Dion Glenie, and Andrew Cowan. Town jumped to an 11–6 lead, but Country fought back to trail by two going into the last end, snatching two shots on the wire to force a 13–13 draw. Donaldson played steady bowls throughout the match, while Barker read the head brilliantly and delivered crucial shots when it mattered most.

Country turned on the class in the Development fours, with Ants Holland, Kevin Stuart, Neil Kingston, and Sean Gately putting on a brilliant performance to defeat Town’s Jamie Gillespie, Ross Gabities, Steve May, and Jason Browning 18–9. Sharp shot calls from Holland and Stuart made all the difference, while selector Bruce singled out Gately for an impressive display in his first year of bowls.

Overall, Town claimed victory in both Seniors and Development games to proudly lift the Noel Kerr Family Trophy. Town now have won the trophy three times to Country's one.

Seniors

Town - 2 wins 76 points Country - 2 wins 73 points

Development 

Town - 2.5 wins 73 points Country - 1.5 wins 68 points

Winner of Kerr Trophy overall

Town - 4.5 wins 149 points Country - 3.5 wins 141 points

 - Richie Kerr
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Photo: 

Back Row:  Dan Johnson, Mick Goodger, Steve May, Aaron Taylor Nigel Mobberley, Adrian Robins, Shayne Chisnall, Paul Brohan, Jamie Gillespie, Rana Matenga, Julian Donaldson, Dillion Barker

Front Row: Dave McNeill, Dean Harper, Scott Fisher, Jason Browning, Bob Mason, Dean Satherley, Ross Gabites, Richie Kerr