Steve Berger claims his seventh Wee Waa Bowling Club A-grade singles title

Wee Waa Bowling Club stalwart Steve Berger became the club’s A-grade singles competition champion for the seventh time on Sunday after winning a tight tussle against Toby Reynolds in the 2024/25 season decider.

Berger, who has been the club’s greenkeeper for more than 53 years and won his first A-grade singles title in 2006, trailed early in the contest against Reynolds but eventually played his way to a 25 shots to 19 victory after 22 ends.

It was the veteran bowler’s 12th appearance in the club’s A-grade singles final and his first championship victory since 2022 when he beat Reynolds 31-12 after 27 ends of play to earn his sixth title.

He was the runner-up last year after going down 26 shots to seven against Ty Baker in the 2023/24 season final, but this year he went to another level to get the job done once again.

Reynolds took the first lead of the match on Sunday after scoring a two on the first end before Berger claimed three of the next four ends to lead four shots to three.

A four on the sixth end saw Reynolds go back in front as he made the score seven shots to four, and he led 12 shots to eight at the completion of the 12th end after the duo claimed three ends each across the next six.

Berger had tied the score up at 14-all by the 16th end and he then scored three shots on the 17th to go ahead for just the second time in the game.

This time, he would never surrender that lead as he went on to win the contest by six shots.

Reynolds hit back with two shots on the 18th end to make it a one-point ball game, but Berger then registered three shots on the 19th and three more on the 20th to lead 23 shots to 16 in the first-to-25 clash.

A three on the 21st end saw Reynolds keep his title hopes alive, but Berger was too good in the end as he scored the two shots he required for victory on the 22nd end to wrap up the match and win 25-19.

There are still several matches remaining in the 2024/25 campaign, which Wee Waa Bowling Club are hoping to have wrapped up as soon as possible so they can finally get their 2025/26 season underway.

They are hoping to crown next season’s singles and pairs champions before the cutoff dates for the North West Champion of Champions events, which are early next year, to ensure that Wee Waa is represented and that local bowlers have the chance to compete for the state titles.