Another thrilling ladies’ fours decider contested at Narrabri Bowling Club

The Narrabri Bowling Club’s women’s fours competition finals usually bring the best out of the eight ladies who are involved, and Saturday’s decider was certainly no different.

The team of Lorraine Scott, Debbie Gleeson, Ronnie Dewar and Helen Woodward defeated the team of Eva Sadler, Janice Foxe, Rebecca Taylor and Cindy Neil (who was a sub for Lisa Pillar) 15 shots to 13 at the John McNamara Owen Campey Green to be crowned champions as the final was decided by two or fewer shots for the third season running.

For Scott, Gleeson and Dewar, it was a second fours championship on the trot after they teamed up with Marie Redman in the 2023 season and won the final 24 shots to 23 against Lyn Wedesweiler, Dawn Armstrong, Val Falkiner and Lisa Pillar.

The 2022 final was also a thriller that went down to the wire as Lisa Pillar, Berice Eather, Gloria Campey and Carolynne Tomlinson beat Jan Etheridge, Sue Solomon, Kay Carolan and Mary Wheeler 20 shots to 18.

Redman, who is Narrabri Bowling Club’s champion publicity officer, was set to line alongside her teammates again this season but withdrew before teams were formed due to injury.

Woodward joined the team to fill the void and she took on the role of lead brilliantly to help guide the side to victory.

Woodward, Dewar, Gleeson and Scott found themselves behind four shots to none after three ends in the decider on Saturday and they scored one shot on the fourth end to get on the board.

Foxe, Taylor, Neil and Sadler then scored another shot on the fifth end to go ahead five shots to one, before Woodward, Dewar, Gleeson and Scott scored five shots across the next two ends to go ahead 6-5 after seven ends of play.

Woodward, Dewar, Gleeson and Scott took four-shot leads after 12 ends and 16 ends, but Foxe, Taylor, Neil and Sadler fought back to claim three shots across the following two ends on both occasions to reduce their deficit to one.

The margin was still just one shot going into the 21st and final end as Woodward, Dewar, Gleeson and Scott led 14-13.

A thrilling finish then unfolded as Foxe, Taylor, Neil and Sadler held three shots, and with the final bowl of the end, Scott killed the end by taking the jack out of bounds with a powerful roll that forced it to be replayed.

Her side then scored one shot on the replayed 21st end to win the contest 15-13 and claim the championship for a second year running.