Bowlers show golden touch
Record haul at NT Games

Air Force's Corporal Pedro Petersen helped the ADF's fours to a gold medal at the NT Games in Darwin. Photo by SGT Scott Kohler

Even lawn bowls is subject to the occasional pitch invader, with this goanna making a hasty exit stage right during the NT Games. Photo by SGT Scott Kohler

By SGT Scott Kohler
THE ADF collected its biggest medal haul in lawn bowls, including best overall team during the Northern Territory Sports Competition, held in Darwin, from May 20 - 23.

Competing against teams from five states, the ADF won two gold, one silver and one bronze in the four-event tournament, staged as a replacement for the Arafura Games.
The ADF and the powerful Northern Territory State side both dominated their preliminary rounds in the fours event and clashed in the final game to decide the gold medal.

Locked at seven shots all, the ADF fours consisting of Army’s WO2 Glenn Johnston, SSGT Pat Phelan, Air Force Sergeant Scott Kohler and Corporal Pedro Petersen, found their weight on the tricky greens and never let NT back in the game, surging to an impressive 27-7 victory.

The pairs saw the Navy’s PO Wade Vidulich and Army’s MAJ Jeff Woods play superb bowls all week to claim silver.

They lost just one game, narrowly going down to a very skilful duo from WA who remained undefeated.

Army’s WO1 Mick Carley was forced to produce a tremendous array of shots against stiff opposition to take out the bronze medal in the singles.

His opponents included two State players and during one game trailed 1-12 before clawing his way back to win 21-15.

The tournament’s multi-team format, known as the Darwin Challenge, tested each team’s ability to compete across the three disciplines and the ADF’s gold medal for best overall team highlighted its depth in lawn bowls.

More from the NT Games in the next edition

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