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Cpl
Chris Venning keeps his eye on the ball while combined with
Air Force Cpl Tony Tapper to win the Pairs Gold Medal in
an ADF showdown during the Australian New Zealand Police
and Emergency Games in Perth.
Photo by Sgt Scott Kohler, 81 Wing, RAAF Base Williamtown
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Bowling
over the law
By
Sgt Scott Kohler
ADF lawn bowlers escaped from the law with one gold and two silver
medals at the Australian New Zealand Police and Emergency Services
Games, held in Perth from March 21-26.
The
pairs event involved four ADF teams contesting in the preliminary
rounds and resulted in two of the teams winning all four games to
earn berths in the semi-finals.
The
aggregate winning margins of each of the semi-finalists meant Army's
WO1 Gary Kern, HQ RTC, Canungra, and myself would not meet Army's
Cpl Chris Venning, 9CSSB, and Air Force's Cpl Tony Tapper, 77 Sqn,
RAAF Base Williamtown, until the final, providing both pairs could
overcome their respective WA Police opponents.
WO1
Kern and I won seven of the opening eight ends of our Semi-Final
and were never threatened, winning 17-6. But on rink four, Cpl Venning
and Cpl Tapper were locked in an enthralling struggle against their
highly regarded rivals.
The
score was 6-5 to WA Police after nine ends and it took Cpl Venning
and Cpl Tapper till the 15th end to draw even. The pair then scored
three shots then one shot on the last two ends to stagger home 13-9.
Their
win set up an all-ADF showdown.
Cpl
Venning and Cpl Tapper started the Pairs Final slowly and the margin
should have been double figures after five ends, but errors by WO1
Kern and I allowed them to trail by just one shot.
The
potential lead lost proved disastrous for us as Cpl Venning and
Cpl Tapper found their semi-final form, racing to a 20-8 lead after
15 ends.
The
match proved a disappointing climax with Cpl Venning and Cpl Tapper
coasting to a 26-15 victory.
The
same combatants combined for the Fours Gold Medal play-off against
WA Police's top side.
ADF
got off to a flyer, leading 12-4, then lost seven out of the next
eight ends to trail 13-17 with five ends to go.
WA
Police were converting brilliantly, but ADF couldn't take advantage
of limited opportunities.
After
21 ends, WA Police were rewarded for their consistency and superb
tactics, winning 22-16.
They
had found something extra from their previous encounter against
the ADF and were deserved winners.
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