Wee Waa Bowling Club and Narrabri Bowling Club have both missed out on a playoff spot in division three of the Zone 3 Bowls 2023/24 season pennants campaign following round six losses on Sunday.
The two clubs met in Narrabri on Saturday, but their round five contest was washed out after just five ends were played on each rink.
The ladder leaders Moree won a nail-biter at home that day as they beat Lightning Ridge 41 shots to 40, which meant Narrabri were unable to finish on top of the four-team section one ladder. However, Wee Waa were still able to claim first place if they could score a home victory against Moree on Sunday.
The visitors got the job done though as they downed the hosts 40 shots to 37 following narrow victories on both rinks.
Rodney Tighe, Phil Hobday, Ray Dennison and Leslie Tighe defeated Kevin Baker, Jay Hall, Dustyn Allen and Ty Baker 17 shots to 15, while Mark Gammon, Terrence Thorne, Chris Cox and Wayne Tighe edged out Bruce Cowan, Peter Doring, Paul Andreassen and Steve Berger 23 shots to 22.
Moree’s round six victory saw them finish on top of the ladder and earn a chance to compete in the sectional playoff alongside section two winners South Tamworth and section three winners Manilla. The winner of those playoffs will go on to represent Zone 3 in the division at the state pennant playoffs next year.
Wee Waa and Narrabri’s round five game would have been replayed this Saturday had Wee Waa beaten Moree on Sunday and been able to finish first, but the two clubs have settled for two-and-a-half points each for the ladder, with Wee Waa placing second and Narrabri finishing third.
Lightning Ridge earned their first win of the competition in their final game on Sunday when they downed Narrabri 60 shots to 15.
That fixture was played in Lightning Ridge, where the home side prevailed on the two rinks as Anthony Kelly, Thomas Stanton, Anthony Lamb and David Samuelsson outscored Tony Redman, Steve Daskey, Len Ryan and Dave Dewar 25 shots to 10, and Jamie Cubby, Michael Mitchell, Raymond Brown and Phillip Morris defeated Lawrie Gilbert, Bill Rosewarn, Larry Scott and Scott Dewar 35 shots to five.
Narrabri finished the campaign with two wins and three losses to go with their round five washout, while Wee Waa finished with three wins and two losses.
Wee Waa Bowling Club also missed out on a spot in the division four playoffs after their round five fixture at home against Moree Services Club Green was washed out on Saturday and then they lost 39 shots to 29 away from home against the section one winners Moree Services Club Red in round six on Sunday.
The visitors picked up half a point for the ladder after they drew one of their ends 14-all, with Wee Waa’s Ellis Allen, Graham Amos, Gary Nolan and Stephen Dewson and Moree’s David Briggs, Keith Kaufalis, Scott Beers and Brett Smith unable to be separated.
Moree prevailed on the other rink as Brian Wade, Robert Bartel, Mark Lees and Wesley Macpherson outscored Charlie Thompson, Peter Hennessy, Clancy Hamilton and Phil Lawford 25 shots to 15.
Moree Services Club Red topped the section one ladder following five wins and one loss to progress to the division four playoff against section two winners South Tamworth, section three winners Gunnedah, and section four winners Armidale Ex Services.
Wee Waa Bowling Club finished with two wins and three losses ranked third behind second-placed Moree Services Club Green and ahead of fourth-placed Lightning Ridge.
